Pat Rafter is set to represent Australia again on the international sporting stage for the first time in 24 years.
But this time, things will be a little different for the two-time US Open champion.
The 52-year-old Aussie will be swapping the tennis racket for a padel bat, as he represents Australia at this year’s FIP Asia Padel Cup in Doha, Qatar.
The tournament begins on October 17 with a total of eight national teams set to compete in the event.
Padel has taken the world by storm over the past few years, with padel fever gripping many sports stars, and it appears it has also captivated one of the greatest Australians to have ever played tennis.
‘My neighbour, Matt Barelle, who has a court, had been asking me to come and play. Thought I might be OK,’ Rafter told ABC Sport.
Pat Rafter has announced that he will be returning to the world of international sport, swapping the tennis court for a padel arena
But Rafter (pictured with Lara Feltham) admitted that he interestingly doesn’t get as nervous now while playing padel as he did in his days as a pro tennis player
‘I came in swinging from the hip and not knowing what the hell I was doing. So it was pretty entertaining for them, watching this tennis player thinking he could rule the padel court.
‘After a few games, I found a passion for it. I just thought: “God, this is a really complicated sport.”
‘Now I’m stuck with it.’
But Rafter admitted that he interestingly doesn’t get as nervous now while playing padel as he did in his days as a pro tennis player.
The Queensland tennis player who turned professional in 1991 last represented Australia at the Davis Cup in 2001, where his team suffered defeat by France in the final. He’d later go on to captain the side in October 2010 and stood down from that role in 2015.
‘I’ve picked it up so late in life, I’m now an old man trying to battle injuries,’ Rafter added, but that isn’t stopping him from wanting to compete on the world stage.
‘I’m loving the game and trying to be out there as much as I can.’
Rafter would go on to hang up his tennis racket in 2003, stating in a letter to his fans that he had ‘lost motivation’ to continue competing at the top level.
But now, he his hungry to get back on court and admits playing in Doha ‘is going to be a lot of fun’
But Rafter admitted that he interestingly doesn’t get as nervous now while playing padel as he did in his days as a pro tennis player
But now, he his hungry to get back on court and admits playing in Doha ‘is going to be a lot of fun.’
‘A couple of the young fellas pulled out, so it’s sort of made my job a little easier, getting in the team,’ he added on qualifying for the tournament in Doha.
While he has experience of playing tennis on the world’s biggest stage, Rafter said his role as one of the more experienced athletes in the team might be a little different from what we might expect.
‘I’m sort of around the fringe, sniffing around and causing a little it of chaos. I think I bring a little bit of a point of difference, too because of the tennis background.
The two-time Wimbledon finalist said: ‘I love the competition side of it, but also I don’t get as nervous now… Like I did when I was choking back in my tennis days.
‘I don’t really care so much anymore.’
The 11-time ATP Tour champion, meanwhile, is also coming up much younger opponents, event players who were not even born when he won his two Grand Slam championships.
‘We played these two young Dutch kids, their combined age was 42,’ he explained.
‘Our combined age was 104. They came up to us and shook our hands and said: “We Googled you guys last night – we had no idea who you were. It’s nice to meet you”.’
Rafter, added: ‘My time is limited, I know that. I just want to go and have as much fun as I can and go as hard as I can. If the body breaks down, it breaks down – so be it.’
