Federer Shuts the Door: No Comeback as a Pro

Roger Federer has ruled out any return to the tour. At Monday's press conference at Flushing Meadows, on the eve of his exhibition on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Swiss was asked whether he was considering a comeback in the wake of the one floated for Serena Williams. He answered:

"no, no, no, not at all",

and said he was glad somebody had finally asked so he could settle the question.

The obstacles he listed are concrete. Going back into the anti-doping pool, a calendar that leaves him no room even for exhibitions, and his body. "The knee can't do it anymore", he said, adding that his head no longer has the patience to wait a couple of years and see what happens.

The 45-year-old Swiss has not played an official singles match since losing the 2021 Wimbledon quarter-final to Hubert Hurkacz. He admitted as much while talking about Tuesday night: "I haven't played a singles set in what, five years now, since the Hurkacz match at Wimbledon". The plan is a singles set against Andy Roddick, then a doubles set with John McEnroe on the other side of the net from Roddick and Andre Agassi.

It is his return to New York seven years after his last appearance as a player, the 2019 quarter-final he lost to Grigor Dimitrov. On the court where he won five straight titles between 2004 and 2008, Federer said he finally sees the chance to say thank you and goodbye, the one his retirement at the Laver Cup in London never gave him in front of an American crowd.

On Saturday 29 August he is due in Newport for his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, in the class of 2026 alongside broadcaster Mary Carillo.