Former Australian of the Year and world No.1 men’s tennis player, Pat Rafter, has been announced as the founding ambassador for Padel Australia, the governing body for the fast-growing Padel tennis sport.

Rafter will compete in the Australian Padel Open in Sydney from January 3, followed by the Melbourne Padel Open from January 10. Both tournaments are supported by the International Padel Federation, further cementing the sport's growing global recognition.

“I am really looking forward to joining up with Padel Australia and to help spread the word of a game I really enjoy playing. I will compete in a few events back here in Australia and who knows where it will take me,” said Rafter.

Players will compete for world ranking points and a substantial prize pool, with more than $20,000 up for grabs in Sydney, and $10,000 in Melbourne. Following the tournaments, the Australian Open will host two weeks of Padel sessions at the Canadian Racquet Club, open to the public.

Padel, a sport played on an enclosed court with specifically designed paddles and balls, typically as doubles, is touted for its ease of learning. This accessibility, coupled with the excitement of the upcoming tournaments, could well see a surge in Padel's popularity in Australia.

"We’re thrilled to work with Pat Rafter to continue the growth and promotion of this exciting sport across Australia," Tennis Australia's Head of Game Expansion, Callum Beale, said.