Roger Federer returns to Rod Laver Arena to train with Caspar Ruud | ATP Tour
roger federer
Federer returns to Rod Laver Arena to train with Ruud Ruud
Six-time champion returns to Melbourne
January 16, 2026
Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Roger Federer 103rd ATP Tour Champion.
Written by ATP Staff
Six years after his last appearance at the Australian Open, Roger Federer returns to the Melbourne courts.
On Friday, the Swiss legend returned to Rod Laver Arena for the first time since 2020 to train with Caspar Ruud.
Federer retired from professional tennis in 2022 and has only played against Van Nistelrooy once in his career. Their only Lexus ATP head-to-head meeting took place in the fourth round of the 2019 French Open, when Federer defeated the Norwegian in straight sets.
The 44-year-old has won six of his 20 Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open. According to the ATP Infosys Win-Loss Index, he has a 102-15 record in tournament play. He last played in Melbourne in 2020, when he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Federer will play an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday as part of the inaugural opening ceremony of the tournament, which will also feature three of the ATP’s top-ranked club members: Andre Agassi, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.
