Two-time U.S. Open singles champion Patrick Rafter will participate in The Greenbrier Tennis Showcase, which will take place on June 3 at Center Court at Creekside at The Greenbrier.
Rafter will replace Tim Henman, who was forced to withdraw from the event due to an elbow injury. He will take on former world No. 1 Andy Roddick in the first meeting between the two legends.
“I am very excited to be a part of The Greenbrier Tennis Showcase,” said Rafter, who will make his first appearance at The Greenbrier. “I have heard great things about the event, the tennis venue and the resort, so when the opportunity presented itself it was an easy decision. Plus, having the opportunity to play against a player the quality of Andy Roddick made the decision even easier.”
Rafter won the U.S. Open in 1997 and 1998, becoming the only Australian man in the Open era to win consecutive U.S. Open singles titles. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his first U.S. Open title.
Rafter was a two-time Wimbledon finalist in 2000 and 2001, and he also won the 1999 Australian Open doubles championship with Jonas Bjorkman. In total, Rafter won 11 career ATP singles titles and 10 career ATP doubles titles. He rose to No. 1 in the world in 1999 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006, five years after shoulder problems ended his career in 2001. Rafter served as Australia’s Davis Cup captain from 2010 through 2015.
His opponent, Roddick, won the 2003 U.S. Open, was a finalist in four other Grand Slam tournaments and won 23 career ATP World Tour titles. He led the United States to a Davis Cup title in 2007, and has had a successful post-retirement career as a television analyst and host.
“I’m thrilled to be coming back to The Greenbrier,” said Roddick, who played Sampras in The Greenbrier Tennis Showcase in 2016. “I’ve enjoyed every trip I’ve made to the beautiful resort, and I look forward to another challenging match against a fantastic opponent in Pat Rafter.”
Match time for the best-of-three-set showdown is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Tickets for the lower bowl start at $100, with upper bowl seats starting at $35. For more information, or to purchase tickets to see these tennis stars in action, visit www.greenbrier.com/tennisshowcase or call 1-855-563-8760.
The star-studded exhibition isn’t the only event included in The Greenbrier Tennis Showcase. On Sunday, June 4, Roddick will host a clinic, giving tennis enthusiasts a chance to learn directly from one of the game’s all-time greats. Limited spots are available for this once-in-a-lifetime clinic. To register, call The Greenbrier Tennis Center at 304-536-1110, ext. 7185.
