What Andre Agassi learned from his first Australian Open meeting with Roger Federer

During the 2026 Australian Open Opening Ceremony, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer took to the court together for an exhibition match.

Andre Agassi and Roger Federer shared the court again during the 2026 Australian Open Opening Ceremony, teaming up in a light-hearted exhibition on Rod Laver Arena. The former rivals joined Ash Barty to defeat Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter, before sitting down with Jim Courier to revisit memories from their playing days.

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Among the stories was a look back at their only Australian Open clash, a quarterfinal in 2005. That night in Melbourne proved pivotal for Agassi’s understanding of Federer’s place in the sport — and of what the next era of men’s tennis was about to become.

Agassi on discovering Federer’s unique dominance

Agassi and Federer met just once at the Australian Open, with Federer entering the 2005 quarterfinal as defending champion. The Swiss star won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, in a match Agassi jokingly claimed he had tried to erase from memory.

Reflecting on that encounter, Agassi explained that playing Federer felt unlike facing any previous world number one. He described how his own shots executed exactly as intended, yet Federer appeared to have limitless time, able to absorb pace, change rhythm, and move opponents in every direction. In that moment, Agassi said, he realised he was facing “the Everest of the next generation” — a player who set an entirely new benchmark.

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A rivalry that defined a generational shift

At the time of their Melbourne meeting, Federer already held four Grand Slam titles. He would go on to win 16 more before retiring, finishing his career with 20 majors and cementing his status among the sport’s all-time greats. Agassi, meanwhile, closed his career with eight Grand Slam titles, a total that still places him among the most successful players of the Open Era.

While Federer now sits third on the all-time men’s singles list behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, Agassi’s position is increasingly under pressure from the current generation. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner rapidly adding to their own major tallies, Agassi’s reflections on Federer serve as a reminder of how quickly tennis evolves — and how unmistakable true greatness can be when it first appears.

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