Back to when… Rafter won three in a row

Libéma Open features a number of two-time champions including Richard Krajicek, David Ferrer, Sjeng Schalken and Mario Ancic.  The latter two even managed to prolong their titles. Nicolas Mahut also successfully defended his title from the previous year in 2016. Moreover, the Frenchman was also the best on the Brabant grass in 2013.

But only one player has managed to win the tournament three times in a row. Patrick Rafter was unbeatable in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

The Australian service-volley specialist won 11 tournaments in his career. Three of them therefore on the courts of the Autotron ‘s-Hertogenbosch. 1998 was by far Rafter’s most successful season. Besides the Libéma Open title, he picked up five more final wins, his second at the US Open being the biggest.

Rafter has a remarkable record in ‘Rosmalen’. Indeed, he participated in the ATP tournament four times and lost only once.

His winning streak of no less than 15 matches started in 1998 and ended in 2001. On his way to his first tournament victory, he defeated Sjeng Schalken in the quarter-finals and Dennis van Scheppingen in the semi-finals, among others. In the final match, he beat Czech Martin Damm.

A year later, Andrei Pavel from Romania was his opponent in the match-winning final. His route to that successful final match started with a win over Paul Haarhuis.

As long as Rafter kept winning titles, the former world number one returned to our country to defend them.

So too in 2000. Once again, Van Scheppingen and Schalken were chained to the winning chariot. And again Rafter was the best. This time in the title match against Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

Couldn’t the Australian lose on Dutch grass then? Yep. After three successful editions in a row, it was Peter Wessels who defeated Rafter in the opening round in 2001.

The three-time champion was knocked off his throne and would never return thereafter. Although the trophy could be shipped back to Australia that year. Because Lleyton Hewitt succeeded his compatriot as tournament winner.