Pat Rafter, Ash Barty wind back the clock for charity in Brisbane

No Nick and Novak? No worries in Brisbane as two of the state’s finest turned back the clock on their home court for a good cause in front of hundreds.

No Nick and no Novak? No worries.

The headline acts of the Brisbane International were absent on opening day but it mattered little to the hundreds who turned out to watch two Queensland tennis legends trade ground strokes for a great cause.

A packed to the rafters Pat Rafter Arena heaved in unison as the famous court’s namesake took centre stage for the pre-tournament showpiece event, paired with one of the most popular players on the WTA Tour – Tunisian world No.42 Ons Jabeur.

And on the opposite side of the net was perhaps the only person in Queensland capable of eliciting an even bigger roar from the home crowd – Ash Barty.

The once-in-a-lifetime charity match, in support of the Ash Barty Foundation, was billed as a hit and giggle. But that quickly changed once two of the most competitive people on the planet stared each other down.

Ash Barty in action. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

As if she never left, Barty immediately took control.

Her brilliant court coverage and silky smooth groundstrokes belied the fact Queensland’s golden girl was 15 weeks pregnant.

Her tennis was good but the banter even better – and Rafter was the one in the firing line.

“When did you retire Pat? How long ago?” she quipped before a ball had been struck.

“There will be a lot of kids here whose first time it is seeing Pat play.”

The 52-year-old master of the serve and volley immediately became the punching bag for Barty and her partner, world No.18, Francis Tiafoe.

The man they call “Big Foe” played the perfect foil to the Aussie pairing and with an almost polar opposite game to Rafter, the two quickly struck-up an entertaining on-court rivalry.

“I’m Rafter Jr,” the affable American declared after dropping a trademark Rafter volley on a dime.

While he ducked and dodged Barty’s biting barbs across the net, Rafter also had to deal with Tiafoe’s sizzling forehands which seemed to always find their mark.

“How much are they paying you to injure me, Francis?” he joked after narrowly blocking one of a dozen perfectly placed body shots.

But the Queensland legend had the final laugh when he sent Tiafoe’s booming first serve sizzling back past him, much to the home crowd’s delight.

Barty with fans after the match. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

In a blink it was over; eight enthralling games of no-stakes, high thrills tennis. The crowd wanted more but the tournament proper had to go on.

From Rafter there were moments of brilliance and a nice reminder of the former world No.1’s brilliant best.

Barty’s return was somewhat bittersweet, because it quickly became evident she could still match it with the best on the WTA Tour.

The two Queensland greats stayed for as long as they could to take photos and sign autographs.

The winner? Tennis.