Former world number one Pat Rafter has been named captain of the Australia Davis Cup team.
Double US Open champion handed key role
Former world number one and two-time US Open winner Pat Rafter has been named captain of the Australia Davis Cup team.
The 37-year-old, who two years ago was inducted into the Australian Open Hall of Fame, will work alongside Tony Roche, who returns for a second stint as team coach.
Roche, who coached Rafter during his playing career as well as Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt, enjoyed a successful stint with the Davis Cup side from 1994 to 2000.
"This is something of a dream-team combination," Tennis Australia's head of men's tennis Todd Woodbridge said.
"Pat and Tony both have an incredible commitment to the sport and their country, and to be able to get them both on board is truly a coup."
The Aussies missed promotion to the World Group last month after the team - minus an injured Hewitt - lost a play-off to Belgium 3-2.
"My standards and expectations are extremely high," said Rafter. "This is a great opportunity to be part of something that means a lot to me."
Australia have won the Davis Cup on 28 occasions but have not been successful since 2003.
They return to action in the Asia-Oceania Group with a match against Taiwan in Melbourne in March.
"Pat and I get along great and have shared some special moments at the highest level of Davis Cup, and I look forward to working with him," said Hewitt, the nation's most successful cup player.
"And Rochey, I have always said his experience is second to none and he will be a fantastic addition again to the team."
