The magic hasn't faded: Federer's unforgettable moment before the Hall of Fame
The 45-year-old Swiss returned to play on the grass in Newport and delivered a performance that thrilled the crowd and went viral. On the nostalgic week: "It's nice to take a peek into the past."
Roger Federer has not played an official singles match for five years, but early this morning (Saturday) he reminded the crowd in Newport just how little of his magic has actually faded. A day before his official induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the 45-year-old Swiss returned to the grass for an exhibition doubles match and provided an unforgettable moment that brought the crowd to its feet and quickly went viral on social media.
For Federer, this was a particularly symbolic return to the surface on which he built a large part of his legacy. The winner of 20 Grand Slam titles lifted the Wimbledon trophy eight times, and in Newport, he hit a ball on grass for the first time in a competitive setting since his retirement in 2022. At times, it was hard to believe that years had passed since he was part of the tour.
Federer participated in the Hall of Fame exhibition event alongside some of the game's greats, including John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, Lleyton Hewitt, Bob and Mike Bryan, Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, and Gabriela Sabatini. Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn even sat in the umpire's chair.
However, the tennis was just the appetizer for the main event. This evening, Federer will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Newport, and he is the only tennis player selected for the class of 2026. Alongside him, veteran tennis broadcaster Mary Carillo will be inducted in the contributor category. The ceremony comes during a particularly nostalgic week for the Swiss. Ahead of the US Open, he also returned to Flushing Meadows, where he stepped onto Arthur Ashe Stadium this week for the first time since 2019.
Federer, who finished his career with 103 titles and 237 consecutive weeks at world number one, defined the Hall of Fame induction as his "final farewell." In an interview with "The Athletic," he said that the event allows him to do something he has rarely done since retiring - to look back at his career and reflect on what he achieved:
"It's nice for me to open the door for a moment and take a peek into my past and my tennis career, because today I do it very little. I'm still young enough to let it all come back to me. I'm an emotional person, so I think the Hall of Fame allows me to look beautifully at everything I've achieved and what I will represent. The biggest thing is probably a huge thank you to everyone who helped me get to this day."
But even before the ceremony, Federer gave the crowd in Newport exactly what they came to see. A few shots on the grass, one unforgettable moment, and a reminder that even at 45, four years after retirement, the hands of one of the greatest tennis players in history still know how to create magic.
