Rod Laver Arena was illuminated during the inaugural AO Opening Ceremony on Saturday night, featuring the return of Roger Federer. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who secured six titles at Melbourne Park, participated in the tournament for the first time since reaching the semifinals in 2020.
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The event commenced with a performance by renowned Australian rock band Crowded House and was attended by Novak Djokovic. Federer shared the spotlight with former world No. 1 players Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, and Ash Barty, along with Jim Courier, who conducted the on-court interviews.
Tennis legend Rod Laver was also present as a sold-out crowd enjoyed the memorable evening, which concluded with an impressive fireworks display. The main draw for the Australian Open 2026 is set to begin on Sunday, January 18.