Yes, I think he's the real deal.Popular both on and off the court, Pat Rafter captured back-to-back US Open titles in 19 – the only Australian to do so in the Open era. I'm watching him and commentating during the Australian Open and I'm being asked about him.
Right now, everyone is 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3 (and) runs well. When you played in my era, you could say top 20 (players) don't have to be great athletes. These days you have to be a great athlete. I believe he is a top 50 player and can be there in the next couple of years if he knuckles down. What he has got that is a lot of other skills that other players don't have. "I haven't seen any signs of him being a great athlete yet. He's long and lanky and he's only 17 so he could grow into it," Rafter told Tennis Now. "The one thing every one worries about with Tomic is he's probably not as good of an athlete (as top 20 players). 219 and Rafter conceded he has reservations about Tomic's athleticism. The 54th-ranked Hewitt is the only Australian man ranked inside the top 100 and while Rafter told Tennis Now he believes 17-year-old Bernard Tomic is a future top 50 player, Tomic is currently ranked No. The defeat relegated Australia to the Asia/Oceania Group I where it will face the winner of the China and Chinese Taipei tie in the second round. Australia missed out on its shot to return to the World Group in suffering a 3-2 loss to visiting Belgium last month. The challenges Rafter and Roche face in leading Australi back to the World Group are considerable. And Rochey, I have always said his experience is second to none and he will be a fantastic addition again to the team." "Pat and I get along great and have shared some special moments at the highest level of Davis Cup, and I look forward to working with him. "I’m happy with the appointment of Pat and Rochey," Hewitt said. The two-time US Open champion's presence as captain was endorsed by his former doubles partner, Lleyton Hewitt, the most successful Australian Davis Cup singles player in history. I don't really want to travel around the world and do Davis Cup, but I sort of feel a little obligation (to do it)." "It's a matter of I don't want to be away (from my family) and travel without my family. They want (me) to get involved," Rafter told Tennis Now. "We are talking with Tennis Australia right now. Rafter told Tennis Now in February he was talking to Tennis Australia about taking over as captain. I think we can make a very substantial contribution to Australian men’s tennis," said Roche, who also served as coach under his good friend, John Newcombe, in leading Australia to the 1999 Davis Cup championship. "I am very excited about working with Pat. Roche, who played on four Australian Davis Cup championship squads, also coached Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt. The role reunites Rafter with his former coach, Roche, the 1966 French Open champion, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest volleyers in modern tennis. This is a great opportunity to be part of something that means a lot to me."Īustralia has been one of the most successful nations in Davis Cup history, winning 28 Davis Cup championships, which is second to the United States' record of 32 Davis Cup championships. My standards and expectations are extremely high. We’ve got a lot of young players that have a great opportunity to play for Australia. "I am really looking forward to working with the team and helping lift Australian men’s tennis on the world stage. "I want to congratulate Fitzy on his magnificent career in a tremendous decade as Davis Cup captain with obviously the 2003 victory as a highlight," said Rafter. The 37-year-old Rafter succeeds Fitzgerald, who stepped down after a decade-long tenure as captain in which he led Australia to the 2003 Davis Cup championship with a 3-1 victory over Spain in the final staged in Melbourne. "Pat and Tony both have an incredible commitment to the sport and their country, and to be able to get them both on board is truly a coup." “This is something of a dream-team combination," Tennis Australia Head of Men's Tennis Todd Woodbridge, Rafter's former Davis Cup teammate, said.
Rafter becomes the fifth captain in the last six decades, following his former captain John Fitzgerald (2001-2010), John Newcombe (1995-2000), Neale Fraser (1970-1994) and Harry Hopman (1950-69). Rafter will join forces with legendary Aussie coach Tony Roche to try to lead Australia back to the 16-nation World Group for the first time since 2007. 1 has been named Australia's new Davis Cup captain. (October 20, 2010) Patrick Rafter spent his career as a devoted Davis Cup player and will now try to lead Australia back to Davis Cup glory.
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