Rafter serves it up to Tennis Australia
Rafter serves it up to Tennis Australia 
By Paul Malone
Former Australian Captain October 31, 2007
FORMER world No.1 Pat Rafter says Tennis Australia puts too much money into helping Australian teens excel at junior level, and it should provide more access to main tour events.
Tennis Australia has taken encouragement by wins by three Australian teams in ITF junior events, the Australian Open juniors win by Perth 17-year-old Brydan Klein, and the French juniors runner-up finish by Sydney 17-year-old Greg Jones.
But Rafter wrote in his column as publisher of Tennis magazine that the transition from juniors to professional tennis was “monumental - literally boys to men”.
“Tennis Australia, in my view, keep the juniors playing junior tennis far too long,” Rafter said.
“I reckon we are one of the only countries where our boys are still playing the juniors at 18.”
But Rafter praised the prospects of Mango Hill 14-year-old Jason Kubler, who won two ETA singles events in the Netherlands and France this year and spearheaded the winning Australian World Junior team.
“Let me tell you this, (Kubler) has some weapons so let’s just hope he can keep on developing his game and become a world champion one day,” Rafter said.
Kubler lost the final of the Beenleigh Open two weekends ago in a three-set final to seasoned player Mark Draper.
