Intro:

Former world number one and current Tennis Australia director of performance, Pat Rafter, reflects on a strong opening first day at the Australian Open for local players.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Tennis Australia director of performance, Pat Rafter (on Australia's strong first day in Melbourne)

"I just want to keep it all in perspective too and just keep all the guys down to earth and grounded. Guys and girls for that matter. And just try and keep going forward. I am, yeah, maybe being a little conservative in that answer, but I think it's important for these guys to understand it's just a first round and we're building towards something in the next five or ten years."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Tennis Australia director of performance Pat Rafter (on whether Australian tennis fans will have to wait five or ten years for the next local Grand Slam winner)

"There are some kids out there, both the men's and women's side of things, that have potential to do some great things. Girls are starting to build some depth. The 15, 16, 17 year olds are starting to come through now, but they'll be another three, four years away. Don't really know exactly how they're going to go. It's really hard to tell at that age. On the men's side of things we're also seeing potential with a lot of these kids, but that's all it is is potential. I can't tell you if they're going to be Grand Slam champions or not, but they certainly have an X factor that puts them in the mix of being great champions."