Two-time Grand Slam champion Pat Rafter has revealed that he will be coming out of retirement to partner Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open doubles next week.
The former Wimbledon finalist's last professional match was as Hewitt's teammate in the 2001 Davis Cup against France, a contest that they lost in four sets on home turf in Melbourne.
Rafter, 41, is hoping that the pair will improve on that performance in their first-round clash against Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen, but has hinted that he is taking his return to the court quite light-heartedly.
"It was shocking, horrible," he told reporters. "I was really bad. So my mates are sending me texts saying, 'Can you please work on your returns'. I'll be definitely the worst player in the competition out there.
"But I'll have fun. I'm playing with one of the best players in the competition. I figure it's like eating chocolate or having broccoli, it sort of equals out. Doubles, half a court. I think I can do that.
"I actually asked him a little while ago. While we're still able to move around the court together, it's nice we can go out there and play in a Grand Slam."
Rafter won the US Open in 1997 by beating Briton's Greg Rusedski in the final and then again in 1998. He also partnered Jonas Bjorkman to doubles success at the Australian Open in 1999.
