Tennis great Roger Federer TURNS DOWN invitation to the Australian Open in big blow for organisers

Tennis superstar Roger Federer has turned down an invitation from Tennis Australia to attend this year’s Australian Open, denying organizers a big hit following the Swiss ace’s withdrawal.

Federer, who was the face of tennis for two decades, retired in 2022 after struggling with injuries and form, and today enjoys the quiet life at home with his family.

During the sporting icon’s farewell event in September, Tennis Australia officials asked the 20-time Grand Slam champion if he was interested in attending the 2023 Australian Open in some capacity.

Federer remains one of the most marketable athletes in all of sports and his attendance at the event would have been a major blow, however the 41-year-old has made it clear he won’t be making the trip.

However, it is understood that Tennis Australia will try to lure the tennis icon to Melbourne Park in 2024.

Next year’s event will mark 20 years since Federer first won his maiden Grand Slam in Australia, which he won five more times throughout his career.

In 2019, Federer revealed that he loved coming to Australia, but found the Australian Open to be a very “tiring” tournament.

‘I think the thing is here at the Australian Open, and look, I call it the happiest land. It’s a big, big event. The only difficult part here is that there are 300 players and 300 coaches and guests and more and this and that,” Federer said. The project.

‘And it ends up being so many people on the site and it’s okay, we’re happy to see each other.

“But it’s like, around every corner, you see someone else and it’s like another handshake, another hello, and another this.

Although Federer didn’t play much in 2022, he topped the list as the highest-earning tennis player, pocketing $90.7 million, beating boxer Canelo Álvarez and American soccer player Tom Brady.