Where does the Australian rank in the list of all-time greats?

After being plagued with a serious shoulder injury which restricted his serving, Rafter chose to take a break from the tour in 2002.

And that break eventually became permanent, with the announcement of his retirement on Thursday.

Rafter's career reached its peak in 1997 and 1998 when he won the US Open in each year and finished second and then fourth in the end-of-season world rankings.

However, on Thursday he told the media in an open letter he no longer felt the motivation to compete at the highest level.

Is Rafter right to retire - and what are you favourite moments from his career?

This debate is now closed. See below for a selection of your emails.

One of world sport's truly 'nice guys' but most definitely not a Donald Bradman.
Terry Meikle, Colombia/New Zealand

Pat Rafter will certainly be remembered as one of the nice guys of tennis. He was true gentleman both on and off the court. He won the US open twice and made it to the Wimbledon finals twice; those are excellent achievements but not the returns of a true great. Players like Becker, Connors, Sampras, and Agassi who have consistently won throughout their careers are the ones who will be remembered as the giants among tennis.
Rajiv Radhakrishnan, UK

I don't think he ever had the determination or drive to become a true great of tennis Simon Bass, England

A very amiable and down-to-earth player. Wish we could see more sporting personalities like him. Shame he didn't win more accolades, but like he says, he is proud of what he achieved, and that's what matters. Happy retirement Pat.
James, Kenya

He was one of the most underrated tennis players of the last decade. If he had won both of his Wimbledon Finals, he would have been held in the same esteem as Pat Cash or Stefan Edberg. And remember, Pat Cash only won one Grand Slam title.
Stuart Gunthorpe, Kent, England

Pat Rafter is definitely one of the greats. He is his era's Stefan Edberg. Okay he didn't win as many Slams but he was one of the most likeable players on tour. He garnered a lot of respect from his fellow players and was one of the most sporting players ever. Winning two US Opens and reaching two Wimbledon finals really underlines his status a great. Besides Agassi and Sampras there isn't anyone else in the present day game who can boast these achievements.
Adam, UK

Pat Rafter should be always remembered as a great and not just for tennis. He was a model professional always winning and losing gracefully as well as being a great ambassador for the sport. I for one will miss the way he played the game, with his swash-buckling style, always attacking the net. The only travesty is Pat not winning Wimbledon.
Chris Lockwood, Scotland

Rafter is unlikely to rank in the greatest of all time list. He had the misfortune to play at the same time as two true greats in Agassi and Sampras.
John, England

Rafter was a good player who, when he raised his game, could beat the best of them. However, I don't think he ever had the determination or drive to become a true great of tennis.
Simon Bass, England

Rafter was a great serve and volley player who also had power. He should always be remembered for featuring in one of the greatest finals of recent memory, where he eventually lost to Goran.
Joe Wightman, South Wales

Rafter was a good player, but he never reached his peak, most of his tennis playing career was full of injuries. If he was fit, he would still be player and would have been number one for many years. He is a talent that we never got to see the best of.
Jimmy Simms, Australia

Pat Rafter was a true ambassador for the sport of tennis. Not only did he play beautifully, he acted like a true gentleman. I wish him great happiness in retirement.
Chris Potter, UK

Rafter is one of the finest players of grass in recent times Sachin, UK

Rafter was a magnificent, aggressive serve-volley player in an era of thoroughly tedious, defensive baseline play. His match ups with Agassi - the greatest of the baseliners versus the modern master of the serve-volley game - produced the most gripping tennis in decades. What a loss to the game.

But Rafter the man will be missed even more. Did he ever question a line call in his career? Has there ever been a fairer player on the tour? A supreme athlete, a wonderfully gifted player and a true gentleman - Rafter may not need tennis, but tennis will desperately miss Pat Rafter.
Miloslav, Australia

Rafter is one of the finest players of grass in recent times second only to Pete Sampras. We will miss him a lot especially during Wimbledon. I think he is still able to compete at international levels at least on grass. But we should honour his decision and wish him best of luck for his family life.
Sachin, UK

Congratulations Pat Rafter on a great career. While he may not be seen as one of the all time greats, he played the game with great poise, skill and humour and set an example for all young players to follow.
Ron Ward, Australia

Rafter was always a true professional and consistently played at a very good level. He was not a tennis legend but certainly won't be quickly forgotten. Good luck in the future Pat!
Joe Gregerson, England

He will be remembered as one of the best serve and volley players of the last decade Phillip McKinnon, UK

Rafter defined class and good sportsmanship amongst all of his peers. For that alone he'll be remembered and missed. As for his tennis, die-hard fans can only hope to see that same aggressive, athletic serve and volleying anytime in the near future, if at all. Yes, he was a great player.
Sal Eissa, UK

Rafter was one of the good guys in tennis, always polite never moaning or giving excuses for loosing, was he really an Aussie? It is a shame that he never won Wimbledon as he was a great grass tennis player, he is right to retire as is any sportsman who feels he has had his best day!
Alex, England

It was a pity Pat never managed to win Wimbledon after going so close. He was always a true professional. Good luck to him in his retirement!
Andrew Austin, Wales

He will be remembered as one of the best serve and volley players of the last decade, in an age when they are becoming a dying breed. Most of the players on the tour these days are indistinguishable from one another, repetitively slugging out multi-shot rallies from the back of the court and avoiding the net as if to approach it were to contract the plague
Phillip McKinnon, UK

Rafter is one of the greatest role models an up and coming tennis player could want. Not only was he an excellent serve volleyer, but he won two US Opens, and was runner up twice at Wimbledon. When you think it was in the era of Agassi and Sampras, that is no mean feat.

Rafter is an inspiration to all tennis players in Australia Mike Lynch, England- formally Australia

I had the pleasure of going on the lash with Pat Rafter when he just randomly started talking to us in the pub during Wimbledon '97 when we worked there, and he is the nicest guy you could wish to meet.
Brad Baylis, England

Rafter will be sorely missed by those people who believe that good sportsmanship need not hinder great talent. He may not be one of the all time greats but his overall contribution to the game is way ahead of most of his contemporises.

Favourite moment? It has got to be for providing one of THE great finals against the on-another-planet Goran.
Nigel Down, UK

Rafter is an inspiration to all tennis players in Australia. I'm very proud of what he has achieved throughout his career. Yet another example of the sporting talent Australia produces!
Mike Lynch, England- formally Australia

Whilst a fantastic player as indicated by his wins and rankings - Rafter will probably not be considered an all time great due to his lack of 'time at the top'. He will however be remembered for his generosity not only to tennis but to those less fortunate then he; his sportsmanship and as a consequence for being a role model to many youngsters participating in all sports.
Steve, UK

Sporting greats are about more than just their technical ability and stock of silverware. Pat Rafter breathed charisma and grace into an often personality free sport and won two Grand Slams to boot. As a true sporting great he will be sadly missed.
Henry Wood, England

Rafter was Sampras without the apocalyptic serve Mossy, UK

After Agassi and Sampras, I believe that Rafter combined the best all-round game in tennis. We have to remember he played many Grand Slams in pain, who knows how many he would have one otherwise? Just look at his record against other top players.
Gavin, Wales

Pat's effective use of the serve-volley game was a pleasant contrast to the power hitting we so often see today in men's tennis. The 2001 Wimbledon final between Pat and Goran was indeed an epic encounter with neither player deserving to be runner-up. Rafter's humility in this defeat sticks in my memory.
Dave, England

Pat Rafter was one of the most talented, level-headed and best competitors that tennis has ever has. He just lacked the luck of the other 'greats'. If Pat Rafter was British, we would be hailing him as one of the all-time greats, not just a good player.
Jon Gil, UK

Rafter was Sampras without the apocalyptic serve. In another era, with less technology, he might well have been both artist and champion.
Mossy, UK

Rafter may not rank as one of the all-time greats of tennis, but it was always nice to see a professional sportsman who honestly enjoyed what he did. Rather than seem like a machine, as many on the tour now do, he could always have a laugh, even after losing two successive Wimbledon finals.
Ben, England

Rafter can't be called a great player but his fighting ability until the last point is a phenomenon Farooq Ghufran, Pakistan

Rafter was a good player who ranks way above the likes of Rusedski or Henman but falls way short of Sampras or Agassi. I would rank him along with Wilander, a sometimes inspirational player who was always there or thereabouts, but never quite managed to dominate his era or give the impression that he really was the best.

Rod Laver can rest easy for the time being, his place at the top of Australian tennis is still unassailable.
David Kennedy, UK

He was one of the nice guys and there aren't many left. In tennis terms he wasn't a Sampras, Agassi or a McEnroe, but he will be remembered for back-to-back wins at the US Open - no mean feat. He was no flash in the pan, always doing well in tournaments.
Phil Pope, UK

Rafter can't be called a great player but his fighting ability until the last point is a phenomenon. His back to back US Open titles are the sign of a class player.
Farooq Ghufran, Pakistan

The all-time great has to be Borg who won consistently on the two most different surfaces (Wimbledon and Paris). Pat, who was a great player, does not even fit into a Division Two of greats. To be considered a true great, you have to win at both Paris and Wimbledon.
Peter Stringer, UK

Rafter doesn't rank in the greats of all time in tennis. Although he was a good player who won two US Opens, he will probably not even rank in the greats of his own time.
Ewen Hay, Scotland

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