Very comfy two-time US Open singles champion and all-around nice guy Pat Rafter has come out of retirement to partner with Lleyton Hewitt after being granted a wildcard to enter the main draw of the Australian Open for the first time in ten years.
Rafter, 41, and the fit and fighting Hewitt, 32, will meet American Eric Butorac and South African Raven Klaasen in the first round of the competition, which kicks off tomorrow at Melbourne Park. According to The Australian, the sure to be closely-scrutinised pals have the potential to face off against doubles stalwarts, The Bryan Twins, in the third round and that Rafter’s resurrection raises the possibility of a potential doubles partnership with Lley Lley in the Davis Cup tie against France next month, where Rafter is the Davis Cup captain and Hewitt his trusty protégé – a twist being described by some outlets as ‘quirky’.
Casey Dellacqua and teen Ashleigh Barty will also fly the Australian flag in the doubles tournament in an attempt to one-up their historic performance at last year’s Open and claim the title.
Until then: fuck yeah, Pat’s back!
Photo: Cameron Spencer via Getty
via The Australian
