Pat Rafter: ‘Why aren’t we producing players like Spain? I don’t know’
Pat Rafter, the former world No 1, has warned that Australia is struggling to recreate the depth of talent found in countries such as Spain and spoke candidly about the nation’s shortage of top players. He also expressed enthusiasm for a rising name, Cruz Hewitt, and described a recent enthusiasm for the sport of padel.
A celebrated figure in Australian sport, Rafter remains widely admired for both his achievements and his affable persona; his looks once led to work as an underwear model and his demeanour is often described as warm well into mid-life. He has accepted a place in the Aussie Crocs, the national padel squad, and will take part in an exhibition at the Sydney Opera House starting 15 August. Padel is characterised in his conversation as a tennis-adjacent pursuit — a smaller-scale version of the sport.
Rafter did not disguise his frustration at the current situation for Australian tennis. “Why aren’t we producing players like Spain? I don’t know,” he said, a line he has used to summarise his bewilderment at the comparative lack of emerging elite players from Australia. The issue of a dearth of top Australian players was a theme he returned to, alongside notes of optimism about individual talents.
Among those he singled out for attention was Cruz Hewitt, whose emergence has generated excitement in local circles. Rafter framed Hewitt as a positive example amid broader concerns, while stopping short of offering predictions about future success. His remarks combined a clear affection for grassroots development with a frank acknowledgement of the challenges faced by Australian tennis.
The former champion’s involvement with padel also featured prominently in his comments. He welcomed the opportunity to represent the Aussie Crocs and described padel as a compact, social spin on tennis that has appealed to him recently. The exhibition at the Sydney Opera House, beginning on 15 August, will put that interest on display and introduce the format to a high-profile venue.
Rafter’s status as a former world No 1 gives weight to his observations about the state of the game at home. His public profile, bolstered by past modelling work and an enduring reputation for geniality, means his perspective reaches beyond the usual tennis circles. His participation in the padel exhibition offers a visible endorsement of the sport’s growth in Australia.
Rafter’s comments underline a mixture of concern and renewed curiosity: concern at Australia’s apparent decline in producing a broad base of elite players, and curiosity in fresh formats and new talents such as Cruz Hewitt. His involvement with the Aussie Crocs and the Sydney Opera House exhibition from 15 August adds practical momentum to those interests.