Roger Federer talks to Alcaraz-Sinner about returning to AO | ATP tour | Tennis

Roger Federer

Federer speaks about Alcaraz-Sinner and ‘one of the most important points in my career’ on AO return

The Swiss legend spoke to the media at Melbourne Park on Thursday
January 15, 2026

Even in a career as full of highlights as Roger Federer’s, some moments still stand out.

The Swiss icon became a six-time champion at the Australian Open, where he spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the hard-court major. Still, Federer calls his fifth title in Melbourne the one that stands out the most for a number of reasons.

“I think it has to be 2017, just because of the way it ended in the final against Rafa.” recalled Federer, who was 35 years old and had not played a tour-level match in six months when he arrived at the Australian Open that year. “It was surreal. I came here with no expectations… I might be happy with the quarters. I think Seve [Luthi]my coach in secret, Ivan [Ljubicic]believing I could do it. I was more like, ‘Yeah, no, not at 17, because I haven’t played in six months, all that’.

“I played really well at the Hopman Cup. I came here with a good feeling. Still, I knew I had a tough draw and had to beat some big guys to even come close to winning. I think the way the finals played out makes it perhaps one of the best special finals I’ve ever had in my career.”

Federer defeated his great rival Rafael Nadal in a five-set championship thriller to conclude his 2017 run at Melbourne Park. The match featured a 26-shot rally, with Nadal serving at 3-4, deuce in the fifth set, which Federer claimed with a stunning forehand down the line. It was a shot that has long lived in the memories of tennis fans.

“I’ve seen it a lot,” said Federer, who also won the Melbourne Crown in 2004, 2006-07, 2010 and 2018. “All my friends send it to me. It’s on the algorithm of people I know. [keeps] when passing through. It’s a great point, perhaps one of the most important I’ve had in my playing career. What a match, what a party, what a moment.”

A new Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry that has etched itself into the tennis landscape in a similar way to Federer versus Nadal is between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The pair have won the past eight major singles titles together and have competed in the last three 2025 Grand Slam title fights, including a remarkable five-set battle at Roland Garros in which Alcaraz saved three championship points in the third set before prevailing.

“The rivalry with Alcaraz and Sinner is great,” said Federer. “They’re playing incredible tennis. I think the French Open final was unreal. I don’t think the match was that necessary, but it was great that we had it. I feel like the world stood still for a moment in the sports world and looked towards Paris, what was going on in that epic fifth set, because it could have ended much, much earlier for Jannik.”

“Then all of a sudden it ended in this craziest way. Possibly one of the best games we’ve ever had in our sport. It’s good that we’re still living off that momentum. Then they’ve backed that up by playing against each other in all these other finals. Everyone’s trying to keep up and they’re trying to bounce back. What we’ve seen over the last few years in terms of their progression has been amazing. I’ve practiced with those guys a bit. They’re incredible ball strikers.” There will of course be more to come.”

Sinner, ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, arrives at this year’s Australian Open as a two-time defending champion. Meanwhile, world number 1 Alcaraz has the chance to become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam (win all four major titles) if he can lift his first trophy at Melbourne Park.

“[Carlos] know about it. It’s just like Rory [McIlroy] going for the Masters. Those are difficult,” Federer said, when asked about Alcaraz’s prospects. “Ultimately, the momentum shifts after the first round. Then it’s a point-by-point mentality. It’s true, it would be crazy to complete the Grand Slam career already.

“So let’s see if he can go ‘crazy’ this week. I hope he does, because before the game that would be another incredible, special moment. He’s got another hundred players and whatever saying, ‘We don’t agree with those plans’. They could try to stop him.”