Pat Rafter, the former tennis world No 1, has been selected for the Aussie Crocs, the national padel squad. The team is scheduled to participate in an exhibition at the Sydney Opera House, commencing on 15 August.
Rafter, 53, stated his position on the squad is fully deserved, reflecting his status in the amateur sport. He also serves as a Padel Australia ambassador.
Tennis Australia has incorporated padel, alongside pickleball, as part of its strategy to expand its range of racket sports. Rafter also maintains a presence in traditional tennis as vice-captain for the Rest of the World team at the Laver Cup, which is scheduled for next month in London.
In other tennis news, Alex De Minaur, the current Australian No 1, reached the top five last month, marking the first time an Australian man has done so in 17 years. However, he has yet to advance past the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam, having lost at that stage seven times.
Rafter expressed concern about the current state of Australian tennis, noting the absence of an Australian woman in the top 50 and the slip in rankings for some male players. He questioned why Australia is not producing players at the same rate as countries like Spain.