I’m a former US Open winner once voted Sexiest Athlete Alive – but I was ‘never supposed to be this successful’

TWICE crowned the US Open champion.

And even voted the Sexiest Athlete Alive.

AFP

Pat Rafter looks very different from when he was winning Grand Slams in the late 1990s[/caption]

AFP

He secured back-to-back US Open titles in 1997 and 1998[/caption]

Pat Rafter was one of the most recognisable tennis stars of the 90s and early 00s, even if he admits “I was never supposed to be quite as successful”.

Now the Aussie looks completely unrecognisable – and is even pursuing a career in a brand-new sport.

For Rafter, New York will always hold special memories.

After never going beyond the third round in four previous appearances, he surged to the title in 1997, beating Britain’s Greg Rusedski in the final.

Then 12 months later, he defended his US Open trophy with a four-set win over compatriot Mark Philippoussis.

Two Wimbledon finals followed – defeats to Pete Sampras in 2000 then Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

His best performances at the Australian Open and French Open were semi-final appearances – although he won his home Slam doubles in 1999.

The former world No1 retired in 2003 after 12 years as a pro, winning 11 singles titles and collecting £8.5million in career prize money – and earning himself a spot in the tennis Hall of Fame.

But reflecting on his glory, Rafter told SBS Sport in 2024: “It was never supposed to be quite as successful as it turned out.

“I certainly didn’t expect that.

“If you talk to any of my mates and any of my colleagues that I played tennis with, they probably would have been one of the last ones to think that I would have made it.

“You hope you’re going to win one [a Grand Slam] and you talk about it, laugh about it, but you’re never really sure if you’re ever going to.”

He added in a 2017 interview: “I was at a time where there weren’t a lot of [Australian] players around.

“I came on the scene, I won a couple of Slams and then I was revered a little bit more than if I had won that back in the 70s.

“You would have just gone, ‘There’s another good tennis player from Australia.’

“Maybe the personality of the media made me into something bigger than what I actually was. That’s okay.”

However, his success was not limited to the tennis court thanks to his prestigious People Magazine award as the most gorgeous sports star on the planet, thanks to his dashing good looks and luscious long locks.

These days, though, Rafter cuts a very different appearance.

The ponytail is a thing of the past and he has grown a salt-and-pepper beard.

And now the controversial 2002 Australian of the Year – despite living in Bermuda for alleged tax reasons – is trying his hand at another sport.

He has caught the padel bug, even playing in the Australian Padel Open and the Melbourne Padel Open tournaments to keep the competitive juices flowing.

And it has even led to the Queenslander being appointed as Tennis Australia’s Padel Ambassador.

Rafter seems to be relishing the role.

He said: “You’re dealing with a whole lot of people who are just having a good time.”

Rafter is clearly having a good time, too.

Times Newspapers Ltd

Rafter retired after earning £8.5m in prize money[/caption]

Getty

The Australian of the Year has brought back the longer locks but ditched the ponytail[/caption]