Roger Federer proves he still has it at 44 with tiebreak win over Casper Ruud in Australia

Roger Federer made a triumphant return to the spotlight, beating Casper Ruud in a tiebreak at age 44 and reminding fans why he remains one of the most beloved figures in sports.

Federer faced the Norwegian star, 17 years his junior, during a training session ahead of the Australian Open, where the Swiss legend showed that his signature strokes are still very much intact, even three years after retirement.

Federer returns to Australian Open amid huge buzz

Federer’s return to Melbourne, nearly six years after his last appearance at the Australian Open, has generated enormous anticipation. The 20-time Grand Slam champion is set to take part Saturday in an exhibition event alongside other tennis icons, including Lleyton Hewitt, Patrick Rafter and Andre Agassi.

While the weekend exhibition was always expected to be a celebration, Federer offered something more on Friday. At 44, and three years after officially stepping away from professional tennis, he looked more than capable of still competing at a high level.

Vintage Federer thrills Rod Laver Arena

Federer and Ruud, the world No. 13, played a tiebreak inside Rod Laver Arena, and the crowd quickly found itself swept up in familiar magic. After opening with a shot into the net, Federer responded by unleashing his elegant one-handed backhand, finishing the point with an overhead smash to level things at 1-1.

A strong serve put Federer ahead 2-1, and he followed it with a sliced backhand and a sharp crosscourt winner to move in front 3-1. An unforced error from Ruud extended the lead to 4-1 before a fortunate net cord helped the Norwegian close the gap to 4-2.

Federer then widened the margin again with an ace for 5-2 and produced a stunning down-the-line backhand return to reach 6-2, drawing audible disbelief from the crowd. The tiebreak ended moments later when Ruud pushed a shot wide, sealing a 7-2 win for Federer and another reminder of his enduring class.

Ruud praises Federer after memorable session

Despite the loss, Ruud embraced the moment and later shared a photo with Federer, calling him the "best practice partner in a while.”

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