Emerging Aussie Tristan Schoolkate is too young to have seen Australia’s last great serve-and-volley star Pat Rafter in action live.
But the Western Australian, who demonstrated superb craft at the net in a US Open thriller on Tuesday, declared he would love to be like Pat, which is not surprising given the Queenslander snared back-to-back titles in New York in 1997 and 1998.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Tristan Schoolkate of Australia returns against Lorenzo Sonego of Italy during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day Three of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
Schoolkate, who defeated Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 7-6 (8) 1-6 1-6 7-6 (10-6) in 4hr 18min in front of a rowdy crowd on Court 12, has watched hours of the former world No.1, who possessed a serve that kicked like a wild mule to complement superb volleys, online.
He has also had the fortune of hitting a couple of times at Rafter’s residence in Byron Bay and said the dual-Wimbledon champion gets in touch on occasion to wish him well. He said Rafter and former Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga were idols growing up.
“I try to be like Rafter, but I am not quite there yet. That is something I am still working on. My (volleying) is a good part of my game, but I can still improve it and everything else is improving too and I think I can compete with these guys,” he said.
“I have had some messages from him here and there and I have had a hit on his court a couple of times. He was away in Melbourne and I was down there with my girlfriend.
“He would probably be surprised with how much I watched his tennis but … he was pretty cool. He is in the next chapter of his life, but when I was growing up, I watched a lot of him. He was probably my favourite.”
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Schoolkate, a hardworking junior who demonstrated his serve-and-volley credentials with a decent run in the Wimbledon boys singles in 2019.
Hailing from Perth, he crowdsourced support from people in the tennis community to give him a chance at making it in a sport that requires significant investment and has made steady inroads since the pandemic.
A year ago he demonstrated his promise when breaking through for a five set win over Taro Daniel in the first round at the US Open, before falling in another five set thriller against Jakub Mensik, a rising star who won the Miami Masters earlier this season.
The heartbreak of that defeat was the catalyst for his raucous celebrations after defeating Sonego, a durable Italian who has won four ATP Tour titles and has been ranked as high as 21 in the world.
That Rafter is an inspiration is no surprise, for his net craft in the second set tiebreaker was crucial to his ability to win a clash his experienced rival dominated for more than two sets before the 24-year-old retrieved a break midway through the deciding set.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Lorenzo Sonego of Italy returns against Tristan Schoolkate of Australia during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day Three of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The triumph over Sonego, his biggest in a brief career at the top level, follows a recent victory over Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseco, a teenager with a big reputation who is tipped to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in years to come.
That victory, which came in the first round of the Canadian Masters, pushed Schoolkate into the top 100 for the first time and furthered his belief that he is capable of testing the top tier of talent.
He demonstrated this potential on home soil in his Australian Open debut in January when taking a set off double-defending champion Jannik Sinner in the second round.
“I took a screenshot (of my ranking) when I broke into double digits. It was pretty cool. I think the last I took a screenshot was when my career-high singles ranking passed my career-high doubles ranking,” he said.
“I was pretty proud of that, because my whole career my ranking was higher in doubles, and one news article before the Australian Open said I was an established doubles player. So I am glad I am continually climbing in singles.
“I’m obviously never going to forget beating Fonseca to get into the top 100. That is a name you are going to hear for the next, I don’t know, how many years, and that is going to be pretty special. Having a pretty special win like that, and that pushing me into the top 100, was pretty cool.”
Schoolkate will face in-form No.23 seed Alexander Bublik in the second round.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Clouds build as fans watch Tristan Schoolkate of Australia return against and Lorenzo Sonego of Italy during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day Three of the 2025 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2025 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP