Roger Federer Picks his Most Favorite Australian Open Title After Making his Return to Melbourne Park

Roger Federer returned to the Australian Open for the first time since 2020.

Roger Federer Picks his Most Favorite Australian Open Title After Making his Return to Melbourne Park

Roger Federer (Image via X/ESPN)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Tennis is back at the Australian Open, and so is a certain legend from Switzerland, Roger Federer. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has marked his return to Melbourne Park for the first time since 2020, where he lost in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic.

Federer, who has won six Australian Open titles in his career, was asked about his favorite one. The Swiss icon picked the 2017 title as his most favorite, which was his fifth Australian Open title and 18th overall. Federer said in his Australian Open press conference:

I’ll always remember the 2017 title (against Rafael Nadal), because I arrived with zero expectations. I think I would have signed up to reach the quarterfinals. But my coach, Severin Lüthi, convinced me that I could do it. I played very well and won one of the most special victories of my career. I’m very happy to be here and to participate in Saturday’s event.

Federer came into the 2017 Australian Open as the 17th seed. However, he beat four top 10 players along the way, including his great rival, Rafael Nadal, in the final. It was also his 18th Australian Open event.

Federer’s title at the 2017 Australian Open was his first Grand Slam in almost five years. It was also his first important event in six months, as he had skipped the second half of 2016 due to a knee surgery.

Roger Federer hopes that Carlos Alcaraz achieves a Career Grand Slam

Roger Federer is optimistic about seeing Carlos Alcaraz achieve the Career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open. The Swiss Maestro is one of the five male players in the Open Era to achieve this feat.

It’s difficult to manage these things, but we know what Carlos is like. His mentality has to be to take it one point at a time. The truth is, it would be crazy for him to achieve it so early in his career.

Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer (2)
Carlos Alcaraz, Roger Federer (Image via X/alcaraz archive)

Federer achieved the Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros 2009, where he beat Robin Soderling in straight sets to win his first French Open crown. The Swiss man was denied his Paris crown mainly by Rafael Nadal.

After that, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic joined him in the list. Nadal achieved it at the 2010 US Open, whereas Djokovic got to it at the 2016 Roland Garros.

Nadal is the youngest man in the Open Era to achieve this feat (24 years). If Alcaraz achieves this feat at the Australian Open, he will snatch this record from the elder Spaniard.

Roger Federer challenges Joao Fonseca to form the new Big 3

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has urged Joao Fonseca to complete the new Big 3 alongside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The Brazilian has been hyped as a future tennis legend, but Federer has shared the ingredients he would need to get there.

I hope his mindset isn’t to be the third wheel with Carlos and Jannik, but to become the best. He should approach every tournament with the goal of winning. What makes him unique is his power. The truth is, he has a special aura, and I think he’s a very nice guy; I really enjoy watching him play. I think he’s similar to me in that he needs more time to improve his game and learn when to change his rhythm. Once he achieves that, the sky’s the limit.

Joao Fonseca and Roger Federer
Joao Fonseca and Roger Federer (via Independent)

Fonseca has shown his potential in the 2025 season, particularly at the Australian Open. The Brazilian defeated Andrey Rublev in straight sets to register his first top 10 win of his career.

Moreover, Fonseca won his first ATP 500 event at the Swiss Indoors, an event which Federer knows really well. Federer has won that title 10 times, and it was also the place where he won his 103rd and last ATP title.

Fonseca has never hidden his feelings about Federer, calling him his idol. He would be hoping to become the first South American to win a Grand Slam title since Juan Martin Del Potro at the 2009 US Open. The Argentine defeated Federer in five sets to register his first and only Grand Slam title and also end the Swiss Maestro’s 40-match unbeaten run in New York.

Also Read: Nick Kyrgios Urges Critics to Stop Asking Novak Djokovic About Retirement As He Reflects on Their Bond: “He’s a Kid Around Me”