MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major. There was Crowded House, the band, playing a set of four hits.

Federer, a six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.

After Lleyton and Bec Hewitt's son Cruz was snapped at the Austrailian Open with Myla and Charlene Federer, an insider spills all.

Andy Murray has been busy since hanging up his tennis racket, which he did after his 2024 Paris Olympics exit. Murray retired at the age of 37 as a three-time Grand Slam champion, winning Wimbledon twice and the US Open once.

Roger Federer watched Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon last year

Just like Roger Federer, Nelly Korda has inspired countless people to take up sports. But the former professional tennis player and Sebastian Korda’s captain on the Davis Cup team, Mardy Fish, connected Federer and Korda based on their demeanor.

On his much belated farewell tour to the tournament he first described as the “Happy Slam," Roger Federer has held court on contemporary tennis. The 20-time major winner was as diplomatic as ever, of course.

Rod Laver and Roger Federer took in most of the action of the Australian Open’s first day on the Grand Slam’s main court. Federer has been a pivotal figure in the run-up to the Australian Open, having practised with Casper Ruud and played out an exhibition doubles match with Andre Agassi,

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta used the friendly tennis rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal as an example of why he can maintain a good relationship with Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola during the increasingly tense Premier League title race.