Pat Rafter has rejoiced in tennis’s rediscovery of serve-and-volley, comfortable to take calls twenty years after his retirement from a pair of Australia’s surging abilities seeking to grasp the misplaced artwork.
The former world No.1 and two-time US Open champion used the tactic nearly completely earlier than baseline retailers took over the game following his 2002 tour exit.
But the 50-year-old reckons it is again, Rafter delighting on the sight of Novak Djokovic following his serve to the web at essential moments on his technique to a twenty fourth main title in New York this week.
Djokovic gained 20 of twenty-two factors when he served-and-volleyed within the remaining, and 37 of 44 factors when he got here to the web.
Rafter praised the Serb’s coach Goran Ivanisevic, who beat the Australian within the 2001 Wimbledon remaining, for dramatically enhancing that aspect of Djokovic’s sport.
“You watch at the US Open that serve-and-volley became a point of difference when Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz used it,” Rafter mentioned.
Referring to Australia’s former ladies’s world No.1 Ash Barty, Rafter added: “With Ash, her artistry was such a point of difference and it was so beautiful to watch.
“It’s a very onerous technique to play; it comes naturally to Ash however to see them combine it up and are available to the web was enjoyable.
“The Aussie guys are finding there is a way to doing that and it’s great for tennis.”
Rafter, who beat a younger Roger Federer in all three of their profession conferences, mentioned it was “pretty evident” Djokovic was the very best males’s participant of all time and revealed that two surging Australians had reached out for some serve-and-volley suggestions.
Max Purcell (world No.43) has shed the tag of doubles specialist to take a seat behind solely Alex de Minaur (world No.12) as one in all 9 Australian males within the high 100.
He and Chris O’Connell (No.53) have contacted Rafter not too long ago to debate one of many Queenslander’s favorite matters.
“It’s been fun to have a talk and chatter with one or two guys about serve-volleying,” Rafter mentioned.
“I’m really interested to see if they can bring that back into the game.”
Nick Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist himself final yr, is just not among the many 9 Australians on the planet’s high 100 after an injury-hit 2023 that restricted him to only one ATP Tour match.
Kyrgios labelled Rafter “clueless” after the two-time grand slam winner criticised his antics on the best way to a memorable Australian Open doubles title final yr.
The fiery Kyrgios’s taking part in return might come on the reinstated Brisbane International from December 31, a event he dominated in 2018.
Rafter was much less forthcoming when requested if the 28-year-old, who typically involves the web behind his booming serve, would have the ability to recapture his finest after a protracted harm lay-off.
“He’s a unique character so you probably need to ask him,” Rafter mentioned.
“Having all that depth in there, and having Nick there who can create whatever he wants to create … you feed off each other.”
AUSTRALIAN MEN IN THE ATP TOP 100
No.12 – Alex de Minaur
No.43 – Max Purcell
No.45 – Alexei Popyrin
No.50 – Aleksandar Vukic
No.53 – Chris O’Connell
No.55 – Jordan Thompson
No.74 – Thanasi Kokkinakis
No.82 – Rinky Hijikata
No.94 – Jason Kubler
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
