The Australian Open kicked off with a spectacular first-ever formal opening ceremony, transforming into a heartfelt tribute to tennis legend Roger Federer. The Swiss maestro, making his first trip to Australia since 2021, was the undisputed star of a night filled with music, fireworks, and surprise appearances from other greats of the game.
A Night of Legends and Surprises
The centrepiece of the evening was a special exhibition doubles match. Federer first partnered with American great Andre Agassi, before receiving unexpected reinforcements. The mic'd-up Agassi, the oldest participant at 55, joked that Federer needed help, calling out into the stadium for another Australian Open winner. The crowd fell silent before erupting as Ash Barty emerged from the tunnel to a roaring ovation.
"We're back!" Barty exclaimed, taking to the court alongside her idol. "How good is this? I've got the best partner ever." The trio then faced off against Australian icons Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. True to script, Federer sealed the victory with a leaping overhead winner, much to the delight of the capacity 15,000-strong crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
Emotional Tributes and a Festival Atmosphere
The ceremony was steeped in nostalgia and respect for the sport's history. The arena's namesake, the legendary Rod Laver, was courtside at 87 years old. Federer expressed his deep gratitude, stating, "It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up." He emphasised the importance of honouring past generations of stars.
The night also featured a set from iconic Australian band Crowed House and a recreation of a famous Federer moment with a ballkid, designed for social media. It concluded with fireworks bursting behind the 20-time major champion. Notably, Novak Djokovic, the record 24-time Grand Slam champion and 10-time Australian Open winner, was in attendance to watch the festivities.
Main Draw Action Commences
The ceremony capped a huge build-up to the season's first major, which now spans three weeks. The 2026 edition attracted 217,999 fans in its first week alone. With the celebrations over, the competitive action began in earnest on Sunday.
Day 1 featured world No.1s Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz, with the latter facing Australian Adam Walton. Other locals in action included Talia Gibson and Tristan Schoolkate. Australian qualifier Jason Kubler earned a tough first-round match against American 29th seed Frances Tiafoe. The veteran, who missed last year's tournament, acknowledged the challenge but remained hopeful.
"Everyone knows that probably the trouble I've had against him is it just feels like he's just a little bit better in probably most of the areas than me," Kubler said. "So I think I'm just going to come up with some good tactics, play my game... Tennis nowadays is just about those one or two points here and there."
