- Personal Appearances
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- Sport
Pat Cash
Pat Cash first came to the tennis world's attention as a brilliant junior player in the early 1980s. He was ranked the top junior player in the world in 1981, and in 1982 he won the junior titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open.
Turning Professional
Pat turned professional in 1982 and won his first top-level singles title that year in Melbourne.
Pat established a reputation on the tour as a hard-fighting serve and volleyer, and for wearing his trademark black-and-white checked headband, which his mother handmade for him. In 1983, Cash was chosen to play for the Australian Davis Cup Team and became the youngest player to play in a Davis Cup final. However the crowning moment of Cash's career came at Wimbledon in 1987. Having beaten Mats Wilander in the quarter-finals and Jimmy Connors in the semi-finals, Pat moved through to the final where he faced the World No. 1 Ivan Lendl, Pat seized his moment and beat Lendl in straight-sets. He famously sealed a memorable victory by climbing into the stands and up to the player's box at Centre Court, where he celebrated with his family, girlfriend and coach. In doing so, he started a Wimbledon tradition which has been copied by many other champions in the years that followed as well as in the other grand slams.
Life After Tennis
Since his retirement, Pat has resided mainly in London. He has coached top players including Greg Rusedski and Mark Philippoussis. He has also worked as a TV commentator. A father of four, Pat's main passion away from tennis and his family is playing the guitar. He donned the stage with INXS at the 2003 Australian Open and has played with his own band at various events and festivals.
