The Resume

(December 28, 1972- )
Born in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Won two US Opens (1997-98)
Two-time runner-up at Wimbledon (2000-01)
With Jonas Bjorkman, won the Australian Open doubles title (1999)
Inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame (2006)

Why he might be annoying:

Asked to describe the difference between Rafter and himself, Pete Sampras replied, 'Ten grand slams.' (At the time, 11 for Sampras, one for Rafter.)
He said about Sampras, 'I try to piss him off as much as I can.'
He was nicknamed 'Skunky' for a white streak in his hair.
He holds the record for shortest time spent as the #1 tennis player at one week (1999).
His being named Australian of the Year (2002) was controversial since he spent much of his career living in Bermuda to avoid Australian taxes.

Why he might not be annoying:

He disproved John McEnroe's descirption of him as a 'one-slam wonder.'
He donated half the prize money from his two US Open wins to the Starlight Children's Foundation.
After losing in the first round of the Lyon Tournament (1997), he returned his $75,000 appearance check, telling organizers he did not see why he should get paid if did a poor job.
He established himself as a true Aussie sports hero after admitting that he had won a Davis Cup match while still drunk from a celebration the night before (1997).
He inspired female fans to chant 'Patrick Rafter, we'll see you after' when changing shirts during matches.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 29]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [December] (Ranked: 12281972)
• I Became a Dad in 2005
• I Come from Oz
• I Married in 2004
• I Was Tennis' #1 in the World
• I Won a Tennis Major
• Look at Me, I'm Naked
• Profiles 29001-29250 (Ranked: 29116)
• Tennis Hall of Famers (Ranked: 2006)
• Tennis Magazine's 40 Greatest Players of the Tennis Era [2005] (Ranked: 39)
• Tennis Stars

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 85 Votes: 50.59% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 62 Votes: 62.90% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 79 Votes: 58.23% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 63 Votes: 50.79% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 70 Votes: 45.71% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 70 Votes: 62.86% Annoying