Arthur Ashe Stadium felt like a time machine on the night. Roger Federer returned to the court for one more exhibition with Andy Roddick, while Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz gave fans another dose of tennis nostalgia before their mixed doubles run came to an abrupt end.
Federer, now 45, faced his longtime friend and rival Roddick in the event billed as “An Icon Returns to New York.” The packed crowd included many fans wearing the famous RF logo, a reminder of the Swiss star’s remarkable 20 Grand Slam career.
“It’s great to be back in New York,” Federer said. “I have incredible memories, obviously, of this court, of the fans here, of the city.”
His memories stretched back to 1998, when he first visited New York for the junior tournament. His first appearance on Arthur Ashe Stadium came three years later, when Andre Agassi beat him 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Federer later turned that painful introduction into something special. He beat Agassi in the 2005 final and then won the US Open four more times in a row through 2008.
Roddick, the 2003 champion, had his own reason for returning. “It comes down to Roger,” he said. “It’s just about showing up when Roger asks you to.”
The celebration continued with Serena Williams and Alcaraz, but it did not last long. The star duo lost to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 5-4 (4), 4-1 in the mixed doubles quarter-finals.
Williams had earlier delighted the crowd on her return to Flushing Meadows, while Alcaraz admitted he was nervous after four months away with a wrist injury. “I was really, really nervous,” he said. “I was out for four months … I almost forget how it feels.”
The new mixed doubles format uses shortened sets until the final. With $1 million awaiting the champions, the tournament still carries plenty of incentive.
