Pat Rafter has rejoiced in tennis's rediscovery of serve-and-volley, happy to take calls two decades after his retirement from a pair of Australia's surging talents looking to master the lost art.
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The former world No.1 and two-time US Open champion used the tactic almost exclusively before baseline merchants took over the sport following his 2002 tour exit.
But the 50-year-old reckons it's back, Rafter delighting at the sight of Novak Djokovic following his serve to the net at crucial moments on his way to a 24th major title in New York this week.
Djokovic won 20 of 22 points when he served-and-volleyed in the final, and 37 of 44 points when he came to the net.
Rafter praised the Serb's coach Goran Ivanisevic, who beat the Australian in the 2001 Wimbledon final, for dramatically improving that element of Djokovic's game.
"You watch at the US Open that serve-and-volley became a point of difference when Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz used it," Rafter said.
Referring to Australia's former women'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 really hard way to play; it comes naturally to Ash but to see them mix it up and come to the net was fun.
"The Aussie guys are finding there is a way to doing that and it's great for tennis."
Rafter, who beat a young Roger Federer in all three of their career meetings, said it was "pretty evident" Djokovic was the best men's player of all time and revealed that two surging Australians had reached out for some serve-and-volley tips.
Max Purcell (world No.43) has shed the tag of doubles specialist to sit behind only Alex de Minaur (world No.12) as one of nine Australian men in the top 100.
He and Chris O'Connell (No.53) have contacted Rafter recently to discuss one of the Queenslander's favourite topics.
"It's been fun to have a talk and chatter with one or two guys about serve-volleying," Rafter said.
"I'm really interested to see if they can bring that back into the game."
Nick Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist himself last year, is not among the nine Australians in the world's top 100 after an injury-hit 2023 that restricted him to just one ATP Tour match.
Kyrgios labelled Rafter "clueless" after the two-time grand slam winner criticised his antics on the way to a memorable Australian Open doubles title last year.
The fiery Kyrgios's playing return could come at the reinstated Brisbane International from December 31, a tournament he dominated in 2018.
Rafter was less forthcoming when asked if the 28-year-old, who often comes to the net behind his booming serve, would be able to recapture his best after a long injury lay-off.
"He's a unique character so you probably need to ask him," Rafter said.
"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
Australian Associated Press
