Was Seeing Federer at the U.S. Open Worth $1,400? Our Second-Row Experience

Almost everyone around us was standing, phones raised, waiting for Roger Federer.

The music was building. Smoke drifted through the entrance. The wait felt long and deliberately dramatic. Before he even appeared, the crowd told you everything: someone beloved was about to walk onto the court.

We were in the second row at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. A few hours earlier, we hadn’t even bought our tickets.

You don’t have to be a lifelong Federer fan

Here’s something that might surprise you: Federer wasn’t either of our original favourites. Francis is a Pete Sampras fan. Frances is a Novak Djokovic fan.

But following tennis over the years gives you an appreciation for players beyond the ones you cheer for. With Federer, we’ve admired the longevity of his career, the level he sustained, and the affection he inspires among fans and fellow athletes. We also value how he carries himself. That matters to us when choosing the athletes we admire.

So when the opportunity came to see Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York, with John McEnroe, Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi, it went straight onto our bucket list. The exhibition took place during the 2026 U.S. Open Fan Week. We don’t know how long we’ll be living in New York, and this felt like an opportunity to take while we could.

Our last-minute ticket gamble

We bought our tickets through StubHub on the day of the event, just a few hours before it started. The price was roughly $1,400 for both tickets, or about $700 each.

Waiting was a calculated risk. We were hoping to find good seats at a price we were willing to pay as the event drew closer. It worked: we ended up in the second row.

Would we tell everyone to do the same? Only if you’re comfortable with the possibility of missing out. Resale prices can move either way, and the seats you want may disappear. If attending is essential, or you need several seats together, the uncertainty may not be worth it.

Our takeaway is to compare the total price, including any fees, and decide what you’re comfortable spending. For this particular evening, waiting worked for us. It isn’t a promise that it will work for every U.S. Open session.

Getting there early gave us more than the match

We arrived before the gates opened and waited outside. Once we were in, we headed straight to our seats.

Food was second, third, or fifth priority. We wanted to make the most of being that close to the court.

That decision paid off. Before the exhibition began, we caught Federer doing a pregame interview and signing autographs for fans. We were just behind the first row of people getting signatures.

We didn’t get an autograph or speak with him ourselves, but watching those interactions from so close was a memorable part of the evening. Had we arrived only for the start of play, we would have missed it.

That’s one tip we’d repeat: if you’ve paid for seats you’re excited about, give yourself time to enjoy the moments before the match too.

Four legends, plenty of competitive instinct

Watching Federer and McEnroe team up against Roddick and Agassi was a treat. The mood was lighthearted, but the competitive instinct was still there.

Roddick’s serves still looked incredibly fast from our seats. McEnroe was another reminder of how much ability these players retain. In the clip we posted, our caption noted a 103 mph serve—quite something to watch up close.

One of our favourite moments came after Federer and McEnroe lost a point. McEnroe jokingly threw his racket, playing up the reputation everyone knows. Federer followed suit and threw his own.

The crowd burst out laughing.

It’s exactly the kind of moment that makes an exhibition enjoyable: players you’ve watched for years having fun with each other, while still caring about the next point.

Were second-row seats worth it?

For us, they were. We weren’t planning to buy tickets for every U.S. Open session. We chose to put that money toward one evening and a rare opportunity to watch Federer live from so close.

Television gives you an excellent view of the tennis. Being there gives you the anticipation, the crowd’s reactions, and the little exchanges between players. From the second row, those details felt immediate.

That doesn’t mean you need to spend $700 per person to enjoy tennis. This was a personal splurge, justified by the player, the occasion, and how much the experience meant to us.

We left wanting to come back

For Frances, the evening made the next wish clear: seeing Djokovic play live. She hasn’t yet, and this experience made her want to return to the U.S. Open when he’s playing.

Francis would happily watch Federer in another exhibition. He’ll also be looking out for Fan Week events, practice opportunities and On activations that might offer another chance to see him up close. None of those guarantees a Federer appearance, but they’re worth keeping an eye on.

As for a dream future lineup? Federer and Nadal would be a start. Add Pete Sampras, and Francis would have even more reason to check the ticket listings.

We arrived as tennis fans with different favourites. We left with a shared memory of Federer, McEnroe, Roddick and Agassi making a stadium laugh—and reminding us how much we enjoy watching this sport.

For us, that was worth the splurge.