Rafter to play at Australian Open
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Rafter hasn't played competitively since December 2001.
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Former tennis grand slam winner Pat Rafter will play doubles at next month's Australian Open.
The 30-year-old, who announced his retirement in January, is teaming up with Josh Eagle after being handed a wildcard for the event.
The pair will also play the Australian hardcourt championships warm-up event in Adelaide.
"He'll be a really good addition to the tournament and for the fans in particular. The fans will get a kick out of it," Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said.
"It's been on the cards for a while, especially when Pat was ordering the tournament balls a few weeks ago. That's always a positive sign."
But Eagle insisted that Rafter, who turns 31, on Sunday was not planning a full comeback.
"We just chatted -- he had nothing else to do and he decided to have a game," said Eagle after playing golf with Rafter on Wednesday.
"He had nothing on at the moment and he felt like it would be something fun to do. He knew that it would probably be my last Australian Open, so he thought we may as well go out in style."
"This is purely something we're viewing as a bit of fun. If we happen to win a match or two, so be it. That'd be a bonus."
Rafter, a traditional serve and volleyer, won the U.S. Open in 1997 and 1998 and briefly topped the world rankings in 1999.
He hasn't played competitively since Australia's loss to France in the Davis Cup final in December 2001.
