PAT RAFTER's first foray out of retirement has triggered high box office interest, prompting organisers to consider making the Townsville Challenge an annual event.

Rafter - faces Mats Wilander

Rafter will play fellow former world No.1 Mats Wilander in Townsville on February 2 in his first competitive appearance since 2001.

Rafter and Wilander, Sweden's Davis Cup captain, will contest a best-of-three sets match at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Ticket interest in the event has been so strong, event organiser International Management Group
is considering making the challenge an annual event.
"It will be a sell-out for sure," said James Ashworth, IMG's Queensland general manager.

"We've seen terrific interest and commitment coming through for corporate facilities.
"We're hoping it will be supported by the Townsville community so we can create some sort of annual event featuring grand slam winners."
Wilander, 39, won seven majors: three Australian Open and three French Open titles and a US Open crown.

Rafter, 30, a dual US Open champion, has not played a match since retiring after the losing 2001 Davis Cup final against France in Melbourne.

While Wilander has maintained touch by competing on the Champions' Tour, Rafter's only tennis involvement has been helping his long-standing mentor Tony Roche coach juniors in Sydney.
The Queenslander does not want to travel full-time any more, but could be tempted to play selected events.

The dual Wimbledon finalist is understood to have been the centre of a substantial offer to come out of retirement to play the Honda Challenge in London last week.

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'Pistol Pete', whose career was defined by a long but friendly rivalry with fellow American Andre Agassi, quits the stage with a record 14 Grand Slams to his name but - as he would himself admit - the occasional omission on his CV.

Perhaps the biggest blight on his career is his failure to win the French Open - a blind spot that means he never became one of the select band of players to win every Grand Slam.

Agassi did manage that achievement but has not been as prolific as his rival.

"I guess I would like that - to have had the perfect career," said Sampras towards the twilight of his career as his hopes of triumphing at Roland Garros drifted away.

But in another remark he was once asked by a French journalist how many of his seven Wimbledon titles he would give up for a French Open.

"None," he replied. "Wimbledon is the biggest tournament in the world."

Sampras' record seven Wimbledon crowns came in eight years, with the only blemish in 1996 when he was dismantled in the quarter-finals by unheralded Dutchman Richard Krajicek.

Krajicek, who himself retired this year, went on to see off the even more unheralded MaliVai Washington in the final.

Sampras also won two Australian Opens and five US Opens.

His first and last Slams were at Flushing Meadows as he announced his arrival in 1990 by beating Agassi in the final.

Agassi, at the time, was the epitome of the rebel youngster, wearing garish clothes and rock star hair but Sampras was always the model professional.

Some considered his extreme politeness off the court dull but the meticulous athlete was ruthless on it and his power game was simply too hot to handle for most opponents.

Ironically his last Slam win in New York was also at the expense of Agassi, now the soberly-attired, crew-cut family man.

Sampras' actress wife Bridgette was already pregnant and the birth of son Christian Charles seems to have finally persuaded the American of Greek ancestry to quit at the age of 32.

Born in Washington DC he grew up idolising Australian legend Rod Laver and was the son of Georgia and Sam, a civilian engineer for the Pentagon.

He has two sisters - one is a teacher, the other a tennis coach - while brother Gus is a tournament director.

The right-hander turned pro in 1988 and his decision to quit will help him devote more time to golf where he has already a very respectable handicap of nine.

He may also be able to make more use of his season ticket for the LA Lakers in the NBA.

Pete Sampras stepped aside in a year which ignited a new generation of tennis greats and ensured 2003 would be remembered fondly.

Sampras waved a tearful goodbye at a US Open won by the irrepressible Andy Roddick, destined to supplant Pistol Pete as the standard-bearer for the American sport.

Roger Federer established himself as Roddick's future bete-noire by also claiming his maiden Grand Slam title in superlative fashion at Wimbledon.

At the other end of the scale, Andre Agassi stubbornly refused to heed Sampras' example and proved the old guys still belong at the top.

Tim Henman began to look ever more isolated at the head of the British game. But it is a splendid isolation, and he ended a largely disappointing season by scooping his first Masters Series title in France.

For the first time in a few years the women's game suffered by comparison, although the lengthy absence of both Williams sisters at least allowed the establishment of alternative stars.

Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne stepped admirably into the breach at the top - but apart from occasional glimpses from players like Amelie Mauresmo and Jennifer Capriati their competition was embarrassingly slight.

Player of the Year

Mark Philippoussis was consigned to a wheelchair and once told he would never play tennis again. The big-serving Australian defied doctors to reach the Wimbledon final - and then he won the decisive fourth rubber of the Davis Cup final for his country.

Unlikely Star of the Year

Ivo Karlovic was the tallest player ever to appear at Wimbledon. But the 6ft 10in Croatian's time was expected to be short when he was drawn against reigning champion Lleyton Hewitt. Karlovic's opening-day win was Wimbledon's biggest upset in history and turned Karlovic into an instant star.

Performance of the Year

Roger Federer finally came of age in a simply magnificent Wimbledon semi-final victory over Andy Roddick. Federer displayed the mastery of so many great champions before him as he overwhelmed the American favourite on his way to his first Grand Slam title.

Heroine of the Year

Martina Navratilova, who returned to the Fed Cup after an eight-year absence at the age of 47. Sadly she lost her record of never finishing on the losing side in a Fed Cup tie - but her undiminished desire to represent her country should serve as a fine example to...

Snub of the Year

...Kim Clijsters, who opted to favour her sponsors over her fans by announcing she would not compete in next year's Olympics because she refused to wear a rival company's shirts.

Prospect of the Year

Next year will be make or break for Maria Sharapova, the 16-year-old courting as much attention off the court as on it. Sharapova is the youngest player in the top 250, and her meteoric rise shows no signs of slowing.

Disappointment of the Year

Federer and Karlovic apart, Wimbledon 2003 was not a memorable one. Henman missed out again; the Williams sisters played out the final a dismal women's competition deserved ... and Goran wasn't there.