Ron Burgundy hijacks Australian Open

Will Ferrell hijacked the Australian Open and Roger Federer was his hostage.

In bizarre scenes following the Swiss maestro's 6-3 6-4 6-3 win over Aljaz Bedene on Tuesday night, the Hollywood icon walked onto the court and stole the limelight from the 19-time grand slam champion with an interview as awkward as what you'd expect given the role he's played that will define the actor's legacy.

Famous for - among other things - playing bumbling newsreader Ron Burgundy in Anchorman and Anchorman 2, Ferrell slipped seamlessly into character as he peppered Federer with a barrage of questions we can safely say the World No. 2 will never have answered before in his life.

At the conclusion of Federer's on-court interview with tennis great John McEnroe, the American asked him to hang around because a "special guest" had a couple of questions for him. The 36-year-old was as surprised as the Rod Laver Arena crowd when Ferrell strode out - and his opening line didn't disappoint.

‘Does it get annoying when they just scream, “C’mon Roger” over and over again?’

"In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, it's great to be here with two tennis legends - Roger Federer and John McIntosh," Ferrell said, intentionally getting McEnroe's name wrong.

From there the conversation went to wonderful places like eating wombat meat and Federer's resemblance to a "silky gazelle". Here's how it panned out.

Will Ferrell: Roger, tonight you seemed like a gazelle out there on the court. Would you describe your game as a silky gazelle?

Roger Federer: Maybe, maybe not. Don't they get eaten at the end?

WF: Not if they're fast enough. Quick question Roger, you're 36-years-old, you seem ageless, are you a witch or a vampire?

RF: Ahh I don't like those.

WF: There's a rumour in the men's locker room that you love coming to play in Melbourne and your secret to fitness is you only eat wombat meat. Is that true?

RF: That is untrue. I have not (eaten it). Should I?

WF: It is delicious - the national food of Australia. I know how much this crowd means to you, they're an amazing crowd, but does it get annoying when they just scream, "C'mon Roger" over and over again?

RF: "They remind me of my name, it's good. At an older age it's easy to forget sometimes, it's great.

Then, in a line designed to warm the hearts of Anchorman fans everywhere, Ferrell signed off the only way he could after such a sterling performance.

"Stay classy, Melbourne," he said.