Biography of pat rafter
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Patrick Rafter was born in Mount Isa, the seventh of nine children. His tennis career began at the tender age of five on the hot bitumen courts of Queensland, where he played with his father and three older brothers. After many years playing in amateur tennis associations, he turned his attention to the professional tennis circuit in 1991.
Pat's innate ability and skill were recognised in 1993 when he was named ATP Tour Newcomer of the Year. He won his first career singles title at Manchester in 1994 and finished the year ranked 21st.
In 1997 Pat won his first Grand Slam title, the US Open. He was the first Australian to win a US Open since John Newcombe in 1973 and the first to win a grand slam event since Pat Cash at Wimbledon in 1987. By the end of 1997 Pat was the No. 2 ranked player in the world behind Pete Sampras. In 1998 he won the US Open igen at Flushing Meadows.
In 1999, Pat was ranked World No. 1, the first Australian to achieve this since John Newcombe in 1974. H
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Attack. Attack. Attack. That’s how Patrick Rafter became the first Australian man in the Open Era to win back-to-back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998, and become the first non-American to win at Flushing Meadows since Stefan Edberg in 1992. In 1999, Rafter rose to No. 1 in the world, becoming the first Aussie to reach those heights since John Newcombe in 1971. Had persistent shoulder injuries requiring surgery not ended his career at age 29, it’s likely that both additional major and ATP tour titles would have followed. Rafter won 11 singles and 10 doubles titles on the professional tour and advanced to the Wimbledon Gentlemen Singles final in 2000 and 2001.
At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Rafter had the physique to pound away on the tennis court. Whether on hard courts, grass, or clay, his first impulse was hit a deep and powerful shot and rush the net with surprising quickness. Once at the net, his volleys were one-timers, hit at sharp angles with precision and pace. The
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Pat Rafter
Australian tennis player
Rafter at the 2015 Australian Open | |
| Full name | Patrick Michael Rafter |
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| Country (sports) | Australia |
| Residence | Broken Head, New South Wales, Australia |
| Born | (1972-12-28) 28 December 1972 (age 52) Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia |
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1] |
| Turned pro | 1991 |
| Retired | 2003 (last match November 2001) |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$11,133,128 |
| Int. Tennis HoF | 2006 (member page) |
| Career record | 358–191 |
| Career titles | 11 |
| Highest ranking | No. 1 (26 July 1999) |
| Australian Open | SF (2001) |
| French Open | SF (1997) |
| Wimbledon | F (2000, 2001) |
| US Open | W (1997, 1998) |
| Tour Finals | RR (1997, 2001) |
| Grand Slam Cup | F (1997) |
| Olympic Games | 2R (2000) |
| Career record | 214–111 |
| Career titles | 10 |
| Highest ranking | No. 6 (1 February 1999) |
| Aus
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