Pat Rafter to highlight Padel at Australian Open showcase events

Former world No.1, US Open champion and Australian of the Year Pat Rafter is set to highlight one of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sports, Padel, in a series of professional tournaments this January. 

Rafter will compete in pro events in Sydney and Melbourne, culminating in the highly anticipated Red Bull Rally Pro at the Australian Open’s TopCourt precinct.

Looking forward to the events, Rafter stated “as a competitor, I’ve always loved testing myself against the best, and that’s exactly what we’ll see at the Australian Open this year.

"Padel is such an exciting sport - it’s fast, dynamic, and a real crowd-pleaser. I’m thrilled to see the world’s best Padel players coming down to Australia to show off their skills. It’s not just a great chance for me to step up and give it a crack but also an awesome opportunity for Aussie fans to experience the sport at its absolute peak. I reckon people are going to love it, and I can’t wait to be part of it all."

Padel will take centre stage at AO 2025 in the Red Bull Rally Padel Arena, located at Middle Terrace’s TopCourt precinct.

TopCourt will feature professional exhibition matches showcasing the athleticism, precision, and excitement of the sport while also amplifying the fan experience with immersive gaming, play zones, live music and F&B offerings. Fans will also be able to step into the four-walled court to try Padel themselves. 

Padel’s doubles-based format and fast-paced rallies have made it a global sensation, now boasting more than 20 million players worldwide.

Tennis Australia Chief Tennis Officer, Tom Larner explained “Padel is rapidly growing around the world, and we’re excited to provide more opportunities for Australians to get involved at AO 2025.

“Our mission is to make racquet sports accessible to everyone, and with the expanded Padel offering at the AO, we’re giving fans of all ages and skill levels the chance to pick up a racquet and experience the excitement of this fast-paced sport.”

In another Grand Slam first, AO 2025 will also feature other popular racquet sports Pickleball and POP Tennis.

The AO Pickleball Slam (running from 24th to 26th January) will see top international players compete for a major prize pool, with fan play sessions taking place during finals weekend. 

POP Tennis, known for its fast-paced, small-court action, will also feature at TopCourt. 

Padel calendar of events:

• Australian Padel Open: 2nd to 5th January, Sydney 

• Melbourne Padel Open: 8th to 12th January, Melbourne 

• Red Bull Rally Pro: 17th to 19th January, Red Bull Rally Padel Arena TopCourt 

The Australian Open 2025, supported by major partner Kia in association with Emirates, Luzhou Laojiao and Rolex, will take place at Melbourne Park from 6th to 26th January 2025, with main draw starting from 12th January.

Images: Australian tennis great Pat Rafter launching the Australian Open’s TopCourt precinct (top and middle) and Rafter with Tennis Australia Chief Tennis Officer Tom Larner (below).