......And so, we are 3 days away from the New Year. A lot of us can’t wait to grace the New Year and what it has in store.
I hope we all bask in its bountiful wonders and gifts.
Well, for my “Today I Remember” series, I will be featuring one of Australia’s Tennis legend – Patrick Rafter a.k.a Pat Rafter.
This modest 46-year Australian’s career in the Tennis world was relatively short-lived due to injuries but he was remarkable and achieved a lot of laudable records before quitting the game.
He was, at a point, the pride of Australian Tennis, especially when he achieved the World No. 1 status – howbeit for just one week in 1999.
Pat Rafter was quite unique in his style of play which was characterized by a serve-and-volley form of play.
Pat Rafter who becomes a year older today, was born into a large family in his home town of Queensland, Australia and discovered his passion for tennis as early as 5 years of age.
He regularly played with his dad and older brothers, until he decided as a teenager to pursue tennis to full professional level.
Pat Rafter became a professional tennis player in 1991, but it took him 6 years after turning pro, in 1997, to record his breakthrough in the sport by winning the US Open Grand Slam.
After his 1997 success, he never looked back; as he went on to dominate the world stage by winning a series of top tennis tournament and trophies.
His grasp of global fame hit its peak in 1999, after he became the No. 1 tennis star in the world.
However, injuries came along, and down-down went his career.
He ended up with 2 consecutive US Open singles titles, and managed to finish as a runner-up twice at the Wimbledon Open.
His short-lived No.1 position at the top of the ATP ranking became the shortest ever World No. 1 reign in the history of the ATP.
Injuries weren't fair to Pat Rafter’s career; as he had to retire from the sport that earned him lots of accolades and fame in 2002, having lost all zeal to fight his injuries and compete at the top level.
Before quitting the sport, Rafter had achieved records which remain etched in Tennis folklore till date.
He was the first Tennis male player to win the Canada, Cincinnati and US Open tournaments in the Open Era within the same calendar year. This, he achieved in 1998.
Just 2 players after him were able to match the record – USA’s Andy Roddick (in 2003) and Spain’s Rafael Nadal (in 2013).
Also, Rafter remains the first and only player who encountered Roger Federer in at least 3 different meetings, but remained undefeated.
Another amazing record of his against Roger Federer is that he is the only player to have won against the Swiss Legend on the three major tennis surfaces – the grass, clay and hard surfaces.
Upon his premature retirement from the sport he became a model and business man, who now has vested interests in various business enterprises.
I personally followed his 1998 exploits, especially, in the US Open, where he retained the title he won a year earlier by beating his compatriot and fellow Australian, Mark Philippoussis, in the final.
Who knows, but for his injury problems and early retirement from the sport, his name may have been bandied about along side names like Roger Federer; considering the fact that Pat Rafter was a nemesis and thorn in the flesh of Roger Federer at the time.
But I guess we would never know anymore.
Well, here goes - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAT RAFTER!!
Comments