{"id":413231,"date":"2026-01-17T16:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/413231\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T16:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T16:10:11","slug":"roger-federer-andre-agassi-lleyton-hewitt-patrick-rafter-light-up-australian-open-ceremony-atp-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/413231\/","title":{"rendered":"Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt & Patrick Rafter light up Australian Open ceremony | ATP Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

No 1 Club
\n Federer, Agassi, Hewitt & Rafter light up Australian Open ceremony<\/p>\n

ATP No. 1 Club members share laughs in Melbourne<\/p>\n

January 17, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Andre<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rod Laver, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne on Saturday.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n

Roger Federer<\/a>, Andre Agassi<\/a>, Lleyton Hewitt<\/a>, Patrick Rafter<\/a> and Ashleigh Barty put on a show Saturday night at the Australian Open<\/a>, where they shared laughs during a fun exhibition doubles during the opening ceremony.<\/p>\n

Under the lights on Rod Laver<\/a> Arena, the crowd settled in when the four ATP No. 1 Club Members walked out together and then rose again when Rod Laver<\/a> arrived to conduct the coin toss.<\/p>\n

Six-time AO champion Federer quickly set the mood for the evening when he took the microphone and greeted the crowd as if he had never left: “I have missed you and it is great to be back. It\u2019s just where we left off, so many memories and nice to dive back into it.”<\/p>\n

Hewitt was already bouncing on his toes, Rafter looked relaxed and Agassi scanned the arena calmly before play began.<\/p>\n

\"<aRoger Federer\/Andre Agassi<\/a>” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2026\/01\/17\/10\/17\/fed-agassi-2026-ao.jpg”>
Photo Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"\u201cATP\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hewitt opened on serve and it didn\u2019t take long for the crowd to cheer. Federer framed a forehand lob that somehow dropped in for a winner over Rafter, drawing laughs from all four players and a shake of the head from Hewitt.<\/p>\n

As the match went on, the contrast in styles was clear. Agassi joked about staying behind the baseline, while Rafter did everything he could to avoid hitting a forehand. Played in a first-to-four format, the first two sets moved quickly, with the match level at 4-2, 2-4, with the Australians winning the first set.<\/p>\n

\"<aRoger Federer\/Lleyton Hewitt<\/a>\/Patrick Rafter<\/a>” src=”https:\/\/www.atptour.com\/-\/media\/images\/news\/2026\/01\/17\/10\/18\/fed-hew-ao-2026.jpg”>
Photo Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u00a0With a third set left to decide the clash, Barty arrived on court to replace Agassi. The former World No. 1 won the Australian Open<\/a> trophy in 2022 before retiring and received huge cheers on her return. Barty quickly found her rhythm from the baseline, with her and Federer earning a 4-2 victory in the third set in front of record-time 10 champion Novak Djokovic<\/a>, who was watching courtside.<\/p>\n

\"Ash
Photo Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

“It was beautiful,” Federer said after. “It was fantastic. I couldn’t be any happier. Just being back in Melbourne with my friends, legends, rivals, is always a thrill. I am a big historian of the game and looked back at who has paved the way for us and this is a beautiful moment for tennis and obviously I am looking forward to the Australian Open<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

Agassi won the AO on four occasions, while Hewitt reached the title match in 2005. Rafter’s best result came in 2001 when he advanced to the semi-finals. The Australian Open<\/a> starts on Sunday, with Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> in action. Jannik Sinner<\/a> is the two-time defending champion.<\/p>\n

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