PLAYER PROFILE

Pat Rafter

  • Age52
  • Born28 December 1972
  • Birth PlaceMt Isa, Queensland
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • Playing StatusRetired
  • Australian Tennis Hall Of Fame2008
  • International Tennis Hall Of Fame2006
“Alex (de Minaur) is in the top 10. Does it get Nick (Kyrgios), Jordan Thompson or (Alexei) Popyrin into the top 10? There’s all these guys knocking on the door.”

— Pat Rafter, 8 Jan 2025

» Rafter optimistic about Aussie tennis, and the sport overall

Singles champion
United States 1997-98

Doubles champion
Australian 1999

Davis Cup
1994-2001
Captain 2011-

Popular both on and off the court, Pat Rafter captured back-to-back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998 – the only Australian to do so in the Open era. Rafter was known and admired for his serve-and-volley style, which suited the grass courts of Wimbledon, where he was a dual finalist in 2000 and 2001 and semifinalist in 1999. He also made the semis at the Australian and French opens. Rafter was respected for his sportsmanship, which saw him honoured with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award and four ATP Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Awards. A winner of 11 ATP singles titles and 10 doubles titles, including Australian Open 1999 (with Swede Jonas Bjorkman), Rafter was also a regular inclusion in Australia’s Davis Cup teams between 1994 and 2001. He finished with a 21-11 win-loss record (18-10 in singles, 3-1 in doubles). The 2001 Davis Cup final was his last event. Within weeks of his retirement, Rafter was named Australian of the Year in 2002.

Pat Rafter in the news

Australia to take on the World in exciting new legends format
AO-Legends-Cup_Australian-Open-2025
18 January, 2025

Australia takes on the World at Australian Open 2025 in a fresh new format for the AO Legends Cup, presented by Marriott Bonvoy.
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AO seeds: The Aussie trio breaking a 25-year drought
(L-R) Alexei Popyrin, Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson will be seeded at Australian Open 2025.
8 January, 2025

Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson are seeded at Australian Open 2025, recalling a famous trio from Wimbledon in 2000.
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Rafter optimistic about Aussie tennis, and the sport overall
Pat Rafter chats on The Sit-Down podcast. [Photo: Aaron Francis/TENNIS AUSTRALIA]
8 January, 2025

Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter has enjoyed watching the rise of his young countryman while also marvelling at the level attained by new superstars such as Carlos…
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Pat Rafter returns to court at Senior World Padel Championships
Former world No.1 and Padel Australia Founding Ambassador Pat Rafter
17 April, 2024

Pat Rafter is among Australian representatives at the Senior Padel Championships currently underway in Alicante, Spain.
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