ROGER FEDERER SENDS MESSAGE TO FANS AHEAD OF SPECIAL US OPEN RETURN

© norinchi_df / X / Fair Use

Roger Federer built one of the greatest records in US Open history during his dominant years in New York.

The Swiss legend won the title five years in a row between 2004 and 2008, becoming the only player, man or woman, to win five consecutive US Open singles crowns.

His final title in that run also remains an important mark in the men's game. Federer is still the last man to successfully defend the US Open title, having beaten Andy Murray in the 2008 final. Since then, several great champions have lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows, but nobody has managed to win it in back-to-back years.

Federer finished his career with five US Open titles, putting him level with Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors for the most men's singles crowns in the Open Era. Now, years after his final competitive appearance in New York, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is preparing to return to Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Roger Federer. © TheTennisLetter / X / Fair Use

Federer looking forward to his New York return

Federer will be back on court at the US Open on August 25 for a special exhibition event. The 45-year-old will be joined by three other former US Open champions and big names from tennis history: Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi and John McEnroe.

It will be Federer's first appearance on court at the tournament since 2019. Seven years ago, the Swiss reached the quarterfinals before losing to Grigor Dimitrov in five sets.

Ahead of his return, Federer shared his excitement with his followers on social media and made it clear that New York still means a lot to him.

“Looking forward to being back in New York and adding new memories to so many special ones over the years.

See you soon NYC,” Federer wrote on Instagram 

Roger Federer. © Instagram Roger Federer / Fair use

There are certainly many memories for Federer at Flushing Meadows. His first title came in 2004, when he defeated Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets in the final. That victory also saw him become the first man since Jimmy Connors in 1974 to win the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same season.

Federer returned a year later and successfully defended his title, before doing the same in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Murray was his opponent in the final, but Federer won in straight sets to complete a remarkable run of five consecutive titles.

He came very close to making it six in 2009. Federer reached another final and led Juan Martin del Potro by two sets to one, before the Argentine fought back to win in five sets.

That defeat ended Federer's winning run in New York, although he remained a regular contender for many more years. He reached the final again in 2015, losing to Novak Djokovic, and made his final US Open appearance four years later.

A very open men's US Open awaits

Federer's exhibition will be one of the big attractions during Fan Week, but attention will soon move to the current generation when the main singles draw begins on August 30.

This year's men's tournament looks more open than many expected. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the event on Friday because of a right knee injury. The Italian had won Wimbledon this summer and was expected to be one of the biggest favorites in New York.

His absence gives Carlos Alcaraz an even bigger opportunity. The Spaniard is the defending champion after beating Sinner in last year's final, and he confirmed this week that he will return at the the final Grand Slam of the season following a right wrist injury.

Roger Federer, Wimbledo 2019© Stream screenshot

However, there is still some uncertainty around Alcaraz because he has not played a competitive match since April. He has already won the Australian Open this season and owns two New York major titles, so he will still be the man many expect to beat if his body holds up

Alexander Zverev should also be confident after winning Roland Garros this year. The German has previously reached the the final Grand Slam of the season, losing to Dominic Thiem in 2020, and Sinner's withdrawal removes one of the biggest obstacles in his path.

Novak Djokovic cannot be ignored either. The 39-year-old is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title and already has four US Open trophies. With Sinner out and questions over Alcaraz's condition, New York may give the Serbian another big chance.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz will carry much of the American hope. Shelton won Montreal this summer, while Fritz was the US O*en runner-up in 2024.

The main draw begins on August 30, and with one of the biggest favorites already missing, this year's battle for the title could be far less predictable than usual.

- Sead Dedovic

BILLIONAIRE ATHLETES

 

David Beckham is a billionaire, worth $1 billion by our count—one of just seven living pro athletes (Jordan, Magic, Tiger, LeBron, Federer and retired Romanian tennis ace Ion Tiriac) to manage the feat.

Read more about how Beckham became a billionaire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maneetahuja/2026/05/20/new-billionaire-david-beckham-on-his-family-team-and-legacy/?utm_source=ForbesMainFacebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ForbesMainFB

- Forbes

LONGEST STREAKS IN MENS TENNIS | OPEN ERA

 

MOST TITLES WON IN MEN'S TENNIS 🎾 HISTORY

 

MOST WIMBLEDON SEMI-FINAL APPEARANCES

 

"I WISH I HAD THE SKILLS OF THAT MAN" | NOVAK DJOKOVIC PRAISES ROGER FEDERER AT WIMBLEDON

A NEW SPORTS BILLIONAIRE | ROGER FEDERER

Introducing sport's newest billionaire... Roger Federer!

The 20-time Grand Slam winner joins Tiger Woods and LeBron James in an elite club

Not even £100m of that was made on the court - lucrative brand deals and investments have made him a very wealthy man

His net worth has sky rocketed in the three years since his retirement

But he's still miles behind the world's richest athlete who is worth £2.55bn

ROGER FEDERER VS. PETR SAMPRAS | TENNIS 🎾 LEGENDS

 

MOST MASTERS 100 MATCH WINS | TENNIS 🎾

 

TENNIS 🎾 LEGENDS

 

Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

#NovakDjokovic #djokernole #andymurray #rafaelnadal #nadal #RafaNadal #RogerFederer #Federer #tennis #goat

NOVAK DJOKOVIC BREAKS GRAND SLAM RECORD BEFORE SURVIVING SCARE AGAINST PORTUGUESE QUALIFIER

Naomi Osaka pulls off brilliant 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Karolína Muchová, the 20th seed.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates. Photograph: William West/Getty

Few things have come easily for Novak Djokovic in these early days of his 21st grand slam season, but the most successful player in the history of the game continued his attempts to build momentum on an incredibly familiar court, Rod Laver Arena, and trust with his extremely unfamiliar new coach, Andy Murray. Despite a difficult test against a fearless, young opponent, Djokovic shut the door on Jaime Faria, a qualifier, as he reached the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win.

By stepping on to Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday afternoon, Djokovic set a new record for the most grand slam matches played in the history of tennis, overtaking his former rival Roger Federer’s count with 430 matches. “When I was a kid, the first image I had of tennis was watching the Wimbledon final at four or five years old,” said Djokovic. “Grand slams are definitely the most important tournament in the world in our sport, it has been over 130 years of existence of this incredible event. I’m just blessed to be making another record, I guess, today.”

Two days after struggling early on against his inexperienced-19 year-old opponent Nishesh Basavareddy, a wildcard, before breaking the American down physically, Djokovic found himself up against another talented young player in Faria, a Portuguese 21-year-old also competing in the main draw of a grand slam tournament for the first time. Faria arrived at the biggest match of his life after navigating the qualifying draw last week, then securing a comfortable straight-sets win in his first round match.

After an efficient start from Djokovic, throughout the second set Faria showed off his massive serve, destructive forehand and solid athleticism as he led by 5-2 before winning the second set with a strong tie-break. Djokovic responded well, wresting control of the baseline in the third set as Faria failed to maintain his second set intensity. By the end of the match Djokovic was in a jovial mood, sharing jokes with Murray and the rest of his courtside team and blowing a kiss towards the crowd as he comfortably closed out the fourth set.

“In the wise words of Mr Daniil Medvedev: ‘If the future generation played this way, they’re gonna have everything – money, girls, casino.’ I just loved that statement, I had to say it,” said Djokovic, laughing. “He [Faria] was playing lights-out tennis, I think. Towards the end of the second set, beginning of the third. I had to weather the storm, he was practically serving two first serves the entire match. Not easy to play someone like that who doesn’t have anything to lose. He’s a big guy, very young, I think 20 or 21 years old, so I told him at the net that the future is bright, he should keep going.”

Earlier in the day, Carlos Alcaraz eased into the third round with his second clean, efficient performance of the tournament, demolishing Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in just 81 minutes. Alcaraz, who changed his service motion during the off-season, served 14 aces and lost just four points behind his first serve. After the victory, Alcaraz signed the camera screen: “Am I a servebot?”

In the women’s draw, Naomi Osaka produced arguably the biggest victory since her return from maternity leave as she returned to the third round of a grand slam tournament for the first time since her comeback with a brilliant 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Karolína Muchová, the 20th seed.

Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates winning against Karolina Muchova. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty

After losing the first five games of the encounter, Osaka responded by playing two focused, high quality sets, serving brilliantly and dominating the baseline with her typically destructive, relentless ball striking. While Osaka has beaten higher-ranked opponents since returning at the beginning of last year, Muchová has been one of the best players in the world since returning from a major wrist injury last summer and she had defeated Osaka en route to the US Open semi-finals last year. Osaka will next face Belinda Bencic, who recently returned from maternity leave herself and reached the third round in her first major tournament back with a 6-1, 7-6(3) win over Suzan Lamens.

“I love it,” said Osaka. “I love playing the big opponents. I think that’s where I play my best tennis. Honestly for me, if I play better and better opponents as the rounds go on, I think it’s more interesting because I feel like it’s like the clash of two titans almost. I think the fans probably appreciate it, and I also appreciate it as a player.”

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion and last year’s Australian Open finalist suffered the biggest upset of the tournament so far as the fifth seed was defeated 7-6 (3), 6-3 by Laura Siegemund of Germany. Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed and defending champion, advanced to round three with a gritty 6-3, 7-5 win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain. – Guardian

- Tumaini Carayol

AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN'S MATCH WINS (OPEN ERA)

 

GAEL MONFILS BREAKS ROGER FEDERER'S RECORD AFTER VICTORY IN AUCKLAND

France's Gael Monfils celebrates with the trophy after defeating Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland. AP

Gael Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the final in Auckland on Saturday

Gael Monfils broke Roger Federer’s record to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday. The French veteran achieved the feat after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland, claiming his 13th tour title – 20 years after winning his first – at the age of 38 years and 132 days.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, was 38 years and 74 days old when he won the Swiss Indoor title in Basel in 2019, the final tour title of his iconic career.

Monfils currently is ranked 52 and is the oldest player in the history of the ATP Tour to be ranked in the top 100.

Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won a Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, prior to the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990.

The Auckland final was delayed on Saturday by a medical emergency in the crowd but Monfils showed the same mixture of aggression and tenacious defense to claim his first title since the Stockholm Open in 2023.

Prior to the start of the Auckland tournament, Monfils spoke about how his love of tennis kept him going.

“I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so of course all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing," he said.

“I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and (at) 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.”

After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.

With AP inputs

- FP Sports

ROGER FEDERER SENDS A CRYPTIC RESPONSE TO MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION ABOUT RAFAEL NADAL S FAREWELL TOURNAMENT AT DAVIS CUP FINALS

A cryptic response from Roger Federer recently surfaced regarding his potential attendance at Rafael Nadal's farewell tournament during the Davis Cup Finals. Team Spain, featuring Nadal, will begin its campaign against Team Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, November 19.

Federer played the final match of his career at the 2022 Laver Cup, partnering with Nadal against Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. Despite their loss, the moment was marked by an emotional farewell, with the legendary duo moved to tears.

Nearly two years later, Nadal is set to follow in Federer’s footsteps into retirement after this week’s Davis Cup. The Spaniard announced last month that he will hang up his racket following the tournament.

A few days ago, an Instagram fan page dedicated to the arch-rivals, named fedal_tennis, conducted a poll asking fans whether the Swiss would attend Nadal's final tournament. The poll was held in the comments of a post highlighting Federer’s heartfelt remarks about Nadal and his support during the Laver Cup in London.

"I just thought it ended up even better than I ever thought it would. So an incredible effort by Rafa, and I'll obviously never forget what he did for me in London," the post read.

The fan page later shared a screenshot of its poll on Instagram, revealing that Federer had participated. However, it remains unclear which option he selected. The choices were:

Yes, Yes, for sure 1000%, Roger, you vote here...!! and, Nope.

Rafael Nadal on Roger Federer’s attendance at his farewell tournament: "I think he has a busy schedule

Rafael Nadal is in Malaga, Spain for the Davis Cup Finals. Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, the 22-time Major champion commented on whether Federer will attend his farewell at the Davis Cup this week.

The Spaniard cited the Swiss' busy schedule and noted that, while this is his final tournament, there will be other opportunities for a farewell.

"It's a different situation. I was there to play. There, we were team-mates. Here, we are a Spanish team. I didn't talk to Roger. I think Roger has a busy schedule. By the way, of course it's going to be my last week on the professional tour, but I don't think it's going to be my last goodbye. So there is going to be other chances to do something," Nadal said.

 The 38-year-old will be joined by Roberto Bautista Agut, Pedro Martinez, Marcel Granollers, and 4-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz. If Spain secures a win against the Netherlands they would face either Germany or Canada in the semifinals.

Nadal will look to bid farewell after winning his sixth Davis Cup title.

- Akchhat Bachheti

GRAND SLAM RECORD| AGAINST THE BIG 3

ROGER FEDERER CONGRATULATES NADAL ON A STELLAR CAREER

 

JANNIK SINNER PASSES ANDRE AGASSI FOR FIFTH-BEST MASTERS 1000 CAREER WINNING PERCENTAGE

The Italian now only trails Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz in a legendary Top 5.

PERCENTAGES (since 1990):

82.02%: Novak Djokovic [406-89] (playing 4th Rd match tonight)

82.00%: Rafael Nadal [410-90]

77.91%: Roger Federer [381-108]

76.54%: Carlos Alcaraz [62-19]

74.26%: Jannik Sinner [75-26]

Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have the three most career Masters 1000 titles with 40, 36 and 28, respectively. Agassi's next with 17.

Alcaraz has five career Masters 1000 titles, at Miami and Madrid in 2022, Indian Wells and Madrid in 2023 and Indian Wells this year.

Sinner has three career Masters 1000 titles, his first coming in Canada last year and two more this year at Miami and Cincinnati.

It was all about break points on Wednesday, as Sinner converted his only break point of the day—he broke for 5-4 in the first set, then served the set out—while Shelton went 0/7 on break points.

After 12 straight holds in the second set the two went to a tie-break, where, after Shelton won the first point, Sinner reeled off the last seven points in a row to close the match out in straight sets.

Sinner finished the match with twice as many winners as unforced errors, 18 to 9, and Shelton had strong numbers too, with 22 to 17.

Since Shelton won their first career meeting in Shanghai a year ago, Sinner has gone 4-0 against the American and 9-0 in sets, with straight-set wins in Vienna last year and at Indian Wells, Wimbledon and now Shanghai so far this season.

Awaiting the No. 1-seeded Sinner in the quarterfinals will be the winner of the match between No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev and No. 10 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, which finished later in the day.

,- John Berkok

PLAYERS TO WIN FIRST FOUR GRAND SLAM FINALS

 

FRENCH OPEN AND WIMBLEDON WINNER IN SAME YEAR

 Carlos Alcaraz: The Newest Phenom on Grass and Clay! 🌟🎾

#CarlosAlcaraz #NovakDjokovic #RogerFederer #RafaelNadal #Wimbledon #Tennis #ATP

NOVAK DJOKOVIC, CARLOS ALCARAZ

 Carlos Alcaraz is only a couple of months past his 21st birthday, and yet this whole Grand Slam success thing is already a bit been-there, done-that for him.

Moving a step closer to a second consecutive Wimbledon trophy and fourth major championship overall, Alcaraz overcame a shaky start Friday to beat Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals at Centre Court.

"I feel like I'm not new anymore. I feel like I know how I'm going to feel before the final. I've been in this position before," Alcaraz said. "I will try to do the things that I did well last year and try to be better."

Like last year, his opponent in the title match will be Novak Djokovic, who advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory against No. 25 seed Lorenzo Musetti in the second semifinal. Djokovic won 15 of 16 points when he went to the net in the first set and finished 43-for-56 in that category.

It will be the first time the same two men meet in consecutive Wimbledon finals since Djokovic beat Roger Federer in 2014 and 2015.

"He's as complete a player as they come," Djokovic said about Alcaraz, who won the 2023 final in five sets. "It's going to take the best of my abilities on the court overall to beat him."

Djokovic, who hadn't reached a final at any tournament all season and needed surgery in June for a torn meniscus in his right knee, will be vying for his eighth championship at the All England Club. That would tie Federer's mark for the most by a man -- and put him one behind Martina Navratilova's record of nine -- while making the 37-year-old from Serbia the first player in tennis history with 25 Grand Slam titles.

"I know what I have to do," Alcaraz said. "I'm sure he knows what he has to do to beat me."

Late in Djokovic's semifinal, as he let his first three match points slip away, fans hoping for a longer match began changing "Lo-ren-zo!" One yelled out during a point, bothering Djokovic, who soon was wiping away fake tears mockingly after Musetti failed to convert a break chance in the last game.

The No. 2-seeded Djokovic, who got a walkover in the quarterfinals when his opponent, Alex de Minaur, withdrew with a hip injury, eventually worked his way into his 10th final at Wimbledon and 37th at a major.

"I don't want to stop here," Djokovic said. "Hopefully I'll get my hands on that trophy on Sunday."

Musetti, who had dragged Djokovic to five sets in the latest ever finish at Roland Garros last month and was appearing in a major semifinal for the first time, was left to rue another defeat and another lost opportunity to pull off a major upset.

"This was the seventh time that we were playing against each other, and I've never faced a Nole like this," Musetti said. "I was really impressed. ... I think his tennis really fits well on this surface, especially how he returns."

After a so-so opening set against Medvedev, Alcaraz transformed back into the energetic, attacking, crowd-pleasing force who already was the first teenager to be No. 1 in the ATP rankings and is the youngest man to have won a major trophy on three surfaces: grass, clay and hard courts.

Now the Spaniard is one victory away from joining Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg as the only men in the Open era, which began in 1968, with multiple championships at the All England Club before turning 22.

Alcaraz also triumphed at the US Open in 2022 and the French Open last month and is 3-0 in major finals.

"We're going to see a lot of him in the future, no doubt," Djokovic said. "He's going to win many more Grand Slams."

On a cloudy afternoon -- the main stadium's retractable roof was open because there was none of the rain that fell throughout the first 1½ weeks of the tournament -- the No. 3-seeded Alcaraz went through some ups and downs against No. 5 Medvedev, a 28-year-old from Russia.

"I started really, really nervous," Alcaraz said. "He was dominating the match, playing a great, great tennis. ... It was difficult for me."

Medvedev grabbed an early 5-2 lead but then got into trouble with his play and temper.

Alcaraz broke to get within 5-4 with a drop shot that chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled -- correctly, according to TV replays -- bounced twice before Medvedev got his racket on the ball. He voiced his displeasure, and Asderaki, after climbing down from her seat to huddle with tournament referee Denise Parnell during the ensuing changeover, issued a warning to Medvedev for unsportsmanlike conduct.

"I said something in Russian. Not unpleasant, but not over the line," Medvedev said at his news conference.

He regrouped quickly and was just about perfect in that set's tiebreaker.

Then it was Alcaraz's turn to get headed in the right direction, which didn't take long. He got the last break he would need for a 4-3 edge in the fourth when Medvedev sailed a backhand long then sat in his sideline chair, locked eyes with his two coaches and started muttering and gesticulating.

"I was playing well," Medvedev said, "and just it was not enough."

Nearly every time Alcaraz emitted one of his "Uh-eh!" two-syllable grunts while unleashing a booming forehand, spectators audibly gasped, regardless of whether the point continued. Often enough, it didn't: Of the match's 28 forehand winners, 24 were produced by Alcaraz's racket.

As dangerous Alcaraz can be at his aggressive best, his defense is something to marvel at too.

At times, it feels as though an exchange is never over until he decides it is. And if it appears that way from the comfort of the stands, just imagine how frustrating that must be for foes. On one point, Alcaraz left a mark several feet long in the grass when he sprinted and slid to reach an apparently unreachable ball. He sent up a lob that drew an errant Medvedev overhead.

In addition to the Wimbledon men's final, Sunday's sports schedule features the final of the men's soccer European Championship in Germany, where Spain will meet England.

When Alcaraz alluded to that in his on-court interview by saying, "It's going to be a really good day for the Spanish people as well," he drew boos from the locals. Alcaraz smiled and added: "I didn't say Spain is going to win. I just said that it's going to be a really fun, fun day."

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services