Kelli Underwood: Roger Federer has almost certainly played his last match in Australia, and we never had the chance to farewell a legend

This year’s Australian Open is missing both.

Villain Novak Djokovic is back in Belgrade after being booted out of the country for refusing to be vaccinated while the sport’s dashing hero, Roger Federer, is at home resting his 40-year-old rickety, right knee.

Daniil Medvedev bears some of the pantomime villain traits of Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, the steely eyed Spaniard with muscles on muscles, is doing a fair job of leasing the hearts and minds for which Federer will always be landlord.

But let’s be honest. We’re all missing Federer. Two years ago, when he played hurt and was soundly beaten by Djokovic in the semi-finals, we all assumed there would be at least another chapter in his Australian story. “No plans to retire,” he said after the match. “Of course, I hope to be back.”

But the Swiss star hasn’t played the last two Australian Opens and is unlikely to make the trip Down Under again as a player. The Federer era in Australia is almost certainly over. And Australian tennis fans, denied the opportunity to say a proper goodbye, are left with are heavy hearts and magical memories, from his first ever match at Melbourne Park against Michael Chang in 2000 to his last against Djokovic in 2020.

Here are the top five most-cherished Federer matches I have witnessed at Rod Laver Arena over the last 20 years:

2003 Davis Cup semi-final

Hewitt def Federer 5-7 2-6 7-6(4) 7-5 6-1

Lleyton Hewitt was desperate to win a Davis Cup on his home turf and had to beat his arch-rival on a sunny September Sunday morning to guarantee a spot in the final. It was a full house, open roof, green-and-gold wherever you turned and the Swiss cowbells ringing loudly. The atmosphere was electric as Federer clinched the first two sets. In fact – he was so dominant he served for the match at 5-3 in the third, at 30-all. What happened next summed up Hewitt’s career in a nutshell. He let rip with a volley of “c’mon Balboa!” roars en route to one of the greatest comebacks the game has seen, his famous grit and determination leading him to an unforgettable five-set victory. The Swiss star was in tears after the match. Federer won 16 of his next 17 matches against Hewitt.

2005 Australian Open semi-final

Safin def Federer 5-7 6-4 5-7 7-6 9-7

Back when the court was an apple green rebound ace and Federer had long hair that hung over his headband, this was one of the great matches on any surface. The fiery Russian kept his cool for one of the rare times in his colourful career. The match ticked past four-and-a-half hours and into the early hours of the next morning. I was a young reporter for Melbourne’s 3AW Radio Station and was put on the spot by the mid-dawn presenter Keith McGowan, to take over the airwaves in the dead of the night and commentate the final moments of the epic match. The tension was unbearable as Marat Safin survived a match point in the fourth set only to go on and win a titanic fifth set 9-7. The crowd stuck to their sweaty seats throughout the contest and even sang happy birthday to Safin at the end of the match. But Safin broke Aussie hearts in the final, by blasting his way past Hewitt to get his hands on the trophy. And this young reporter got to bed about 5am, having commentated on radio for the very first time and still buzzing after witnessing one of the greatest matches ever played on the Rod Laver Arena.

2006 Australian Open final

Federer def Baghdatis 5-7 7-5 6-0 6-2

It was the aftermath of this match, rather than the contest, that made it so memorable. After Cypriot boy wonder Marcos Baghdatis and his band of merry men (a huge group of vocal followers) dominated the fortnight with an incredible giant killing run, Federer made a nervy start before settling in and controlling the final in typical fashion. It was his second Australian Open title and his seventh major. But as Rod Laver handed over the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, Federer fell to pieces, hugging Laver not once, but twice and crying on the legend’s shoulder. The waterworks were unexpected and put a lump in everyone’s throat. Superhuman on the tennis court, human off it. It was a great insight into the champ’s vulnerable side, as well as his love and appreciation of the sport’s history and respect for its former champions.

2008 Australian Open third round

Federer def Tipsarevic 6-7 (5) 7-6 (1) 5-7 6-1 10-8

Another record-breaking night and all because of Federer. As the afternoon approached evening, word spread like wildfire around the Melbourne Park precinct that Federer was in all sorts of trouble against a tattooed Serbian donning wraparound sunglasses. Janko Tipsarevic was the world No. 49 and led the world No. 1 two-sets-to-one. The match entered a fifth set as fans found the nearest giant screen, fearing the unthinkable. Could Tipsaravic knock Federer out in the opening days of the tournament? Federer prevailed in a classic fifth set, 10-8. The marathon struggle lasted 4 hours and 27 minutes. The length of the match meant Venus Williams opened the night session at 10pm, followed by the much-awaited confrontation between Hewitt and Baghdatis. They started the match just before midnight. It too was a five setter, with the last ball struck at 4.34am. The fans didn’t leave and Hewitt sealed the deal just before dawn to reward them for their efforts. It set the record for the latest completed match in Grand Slam history. This bleary-eyed reporter started her radio shift at 4pm that day and eventually got to bed at 6am. It was exhausting, exhilarating and unforgettable.

2017 Australian Open final

Federer def Nadal 6–4 3–6 6–1 3–6 6–3