In a hilarious throwback to tennis rivalries of old, American legend Andre Agassi was playfully labelled a 'd***' by Australian great Pat Rafter during a star-studded exhibition doubles match at the Australian Open. The incident occurred during a light-hearted clash that also featured Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt, providing immense entertainment for the Melbourne crowd.
On-Court Banter and Playful Insults
The cheeky exchange unfolded after Agassi won a point against Rafter and couldn't resist a dig at his old foe. "Does that bring back some bad memories, Pat?" Agassi quipped, sending the audience into fits of laughter. A chuckling Rafter shook his head before firing back with his now-viral retort: "You're such a d***." Not missing a beat, Agassi turned to his partner, Federer, and joked, "I can even feel Roger twitching over here."
Rafter then looked towards the Swiss maestro and added, "I could say the same to Roger, too, but I don't, OK?" The friendly sledging continued throughout the match, with Agassi frequently ribbing his opponents and sharing jokes with Federer, showcasing the camaraderie between the tennis icons.
A Rivalry Revisited and a Special Substitution
The exhibition served as a nostalgic reminder of the pair's competitive history. Agassi historically held the upper hand, leading their head-to-head meetings 10-5. He also triumphed in both of their Australian Open encounters, including a semi-final in 2001 – the year of Rafter's best performance at his home Grand Slam, where he fell to the defending champion. Agassi went on to retain his title that year, one of his four Melbourne victories.
Rafter did gain a measure of revenge later in 2001, defeating Agassi at the same stage of Wimbledon to reach the final, though he ultimately lost to Goran Ivanisevic. Their final professional meeting was at the Tennis Masters Cup, where Agassi won in straight sets towards the end of Rafter's final year on tour before his 2003 retirement.
In a delightful twist during the exhibition, Ash Barty stepped in for the final set, replacing Agassi. The first set had gone to the Australian duo of Hewitt and Rafter 4-2, before Agassi and Federer claimed the second set 4-2. Barty then partnered with Federer to secure the deciding set 4-2, ensuring victory for her team.
Smiles and Embraces Cap Off Entertaining Night
The match concluded with broad smiles all round. Agassi returned to the court, and all four players shared warm embraces at the net. Notably, Agassi and Rafter shared a hug, wrapping their arms around each other in a show of mutual respect and friendship, putting any playful animosity firmly to bed.
This exhibition marked the conclusion of the inaugural opening ceremony for the 2026 Australian Open, serving as a perfect, entertaining warm-up for the main draw, which was scheduled to begin the following Sunday. The event successfully blended nostalgia, world-class skill, and good-humoured rivalry, much to the delight of every tennis fan in attendance.
