Roger Federer beats Andy Roddick 6-3 in U.S. Open exhibition return at Arthur Ashe
Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick 6-3 in a one-set exhibition at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night during the U.S. Open, returning to the court for the first time since 2019. The 45-year-old needed 35 minutes to close out the match, breaking Roddick in the eighth game before serving out the win.
Federer, a five-time U.S. Open champion, walked back onto Arthur Ashe to a packed crowd wearing the RF logo and received a hero's welcome from fans who have followed his success at the tournament. The stadium is where Federer claimed five consecutive titles between 2004 and 2008, and the appearance came without the pressure of chasing another Grand Slam. Although he may have retired from professional tennis, moments in the contest recalled the shots that defined his career.
Play opened with Federer striking a backhand winner down the line in the second game, an early sign that his one-handed backhand remained sharp. A backhand passing shot in the sixth game drew loud reaction from the stands, and the two former rivals kept several games competitive despite the exhibition format. Roddick, the American who is almost 44, repeatedly used his heavy serve to push Federer across the court.
The decisive break arrived in the eighth game when Federer broke Roddick at love to move 5-3. Serving for the match, Federer faced a break point after a loose forehand but erased the danger with an ace and then produced a service winner to reach match point. He converted soon after, prompting another roar from the Arthur Ashe crowd.
Federer and Roddick have a long history: they met 24 times during their professional careers, with Federer winning 21 of those encounters. Four of those meetings took place in Grand Slam finals, including the 2006 and 2007 U.S. Open finals, both of which Federer won. The rivalry evolved into a long-standing friendship after both players retired from the tour.
Reflecting on that relationship, Roddick said: "It comes down to Roger. Obviously we played a bunch and he beat me a bunch, but we were always able to navigate a friendship through the middle of our careers that’s lasted till now and will hopefully last forever. It’s just about showing up when Roger asks you to." Federer addressed the crowd as well, saying: "It’s great to be back in New York."
After the match Federer added: "Maybe down the road someday I'll get a chance again to come to this beautiful court & play in front of you guys. It was an honor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I mean it." The exhibition provided a chance for a new generation of fans to see the shotmaking that defined Federer’s time at the U.S. Open and left the stadium with vivid memories of his return.
