Roger Federer to Play in Exhibition Match at the US Open

The New York Knicks potentially winning their first NBA championship in 53 years isn’t the only thing that New Yorkers have to look forward to this summer.

That’s because someone who’s won 20 championships, namely 20 tennis Grand Slam singles titles, is making his return to the tennis court in Queens, N.Y. Roger Federer, who is set to be enshrined into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in August, will play an exhibition match beforehand at the 2026 U.S. Open.

The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) made the announcement Monday. The event will take place on Aug. 25 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, the iconic host venue of the U.S. Open. A five-time U.S. Open champion, Federer is tied for the fourth-most titles in the history of the tournament and is also tied for the most in the Open Era, alongside Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors. However, Federer is the only player in the Open Era, male or female, to win the event five years in a row (2004–2008).

Others set to compete in the exhibition include Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, and John McEnroe, all of whom have also won U.S. Open singles titles. The USTA said it will make further announcements regarding the lineup for the event, which comes a week before singles play at the U.S. Open 2026.

“The U.S. Open has always been one of the most special tournaments for me,” Federer said in a statement. “So many unforgettable moments of my career happened in New York, and Arthur Ashe Stadium is a place that means a great deal to me. I’ve missed being part of that atmosphere and feeling the incredible energy that the fans bring every year.

“To return to Arthur Ashe and share the evening with Andy, Andre and John makes it even more meaningful. I’m looking forward to celebrating those memories, seeing the fans again, and enjoying a very special night together.”

Federer first competed at the U.S. Open in 1999 as an 18-year-old and last played the Grand Slam in 2019 as a 38-year-old. He played in the tournament 19 times, posting an 89–14 record, and making 10 semifinal appearances during his run. In addition to holding the record of five straight singles championships, Federer also holds the record of 40 straight matches won at the event.

The legendary Swiss played his last competitive match in 2022, retiring after that year’s Laver Cup. In November 2025, it was announced that Federer was elected into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, with the ceremony coming just after Federer’s exhibition match at the U.S. Open. The 2026 Tennis Hall of Fame ceremony is set for Aug. 29 in Newport, R.I.

Others set to be enshrined this year include 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and four-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the Player Category. Additionally, journalist Mary Carillo and administrator Marshall Happer will go in via the Contributor Category.

Federer is the latest Mount Rushmore-caliber tennis player to make a return to tennis, even though his return is in an exhibition. Also set to return to competitive play after a multi-year retirement is Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, which includes six U.S. Open singles titles, will come back at the Queen’s Club Championships this week in London in women’s doubles. Williams, who played her last match at the 2022 U.S. Open, will team with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko. Williams had already won seven Grand Slam singles titles when Mboko was born in 2006.

Williams will also play at the Berlin Tennis Open in mid-June, also in doubles. This could set the stage for her to play at Wimbledon in late June, either in doubles or singles.

It doesn’t appear competitive action is on the horizon for Federer who, like Williams, is 44. But once those competitive juices get flowing, anything is possible.

The 2026 U.S. Open begins on Aug. 30. The women’s championship match will take place on Sept. 12, with the men’s final  one day later. Alexander Zverev is coming off winning the last Grand Slam on the men’s side, taking the French Open final on Sunday, which is his first major victory after coming up short over his first 40 Grand Slam appearances. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz is the defending U.S. Open champion, winning for a second time at the event after also winning in 2022.