Pat Rafter steps up to mentor Sydney Swans draftee Oliver Florent

FOR most of Sydney Swans draftee Oliver Florent’s life he appeared destined for a starring role in tennisbut four years ago he focused on his other love.

Sydney Swans draft selection Oliver Florent. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

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FOR most of Oliver Florent’s life he appeared destined for a starring role on Margaret Court Arena, not the SCG.

Florent was a junior tennis prodigy, but four years ago he decided to focus on his other love and was picked by the Sydney Swans at No.11 in the national draft.

But his connection with tennis remains strong with Australian great Pat Rafter now mentoring the teenager as he takes his first steps as a professional footballer.

Rafter was a mate of Ollie’s father Andrew, who represented Australia in the Davis Cup and was ranked in the top 10 in the world in doubles.

Andrew was diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer in 2013 and died last August

Sydney Swans draft selection Oliver Florent. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

He was a popular player on the tour and remains Ollie’s inspiration. Now the tennis community is keeping a watchful eye on his talented son.

In the week before the draft Ollie was holidaying in Byron Bay and Rafter invited him to his house. The dual US Open champion gave the eager teenager some pointers on how to thrive as a full-time sportsman.

“Pat has been unreal for me,” Oliver told The Saturday Telegraph.

“He’s taught me about what it means to be professional sportsman, he’s taught me good habits. He said to give it everything I’ve got and not to leave anything undone. To make sure in your mind you’ve worked as hard as you possibly can.

“When you finish your career you don’t want to have any regrets. That’s the first step to it.”

Oliver Florent as a six-year-old playing against former world No.1 Andy Roddick during a charity tournament in Melbourne.

Rafter also offered advice about how to behave away from the sporting field.

“The next thing Pat said is to be a good person,” Florent said.

“You have to create good relationships and make sure you are humble about your achievements.”

This year’s Australian Open will be different for Florent — training commitments for the Swans mean he will miss the tournament he has attended his entire life.

Oliver and Andrew Florent during the tennis player’s days on the pro tour.

But he won’t miss much of the action, with his TV tuned in for every spare minute he has.

One of his dad’s best friends and occasional doubles partner, Paul Kilderry, has known Ollie since he was a baby and watched him grow up on tennis courts and at the Open.

“Andrew played at the Open more than a dozen times and Ollie would have been there for all of them,” Kilderry said.

“Ollie was always hanging around, I remember him being there when he was one. Every one of his dad’s mates are there for him now, if and when he wants to reach out, they’re all there. The tennis fraternity are following and embracing him from a distance. A lot of the international players past and present have asked after Ollie this week.”

Mentors Paul Kilderry and Pat Rafter. Picture: Mark Keil

Lleyton Hewitt is one of those people and watched Ollie’s best on ground performance in the All Stars match at Punt Road on grand final day. He’s a mad Adelaide Crows supporter but he will definitely have a soft spot for the Swans in the coming seasons.

“A lot of the international players past and present have asked after Ollie this week,” Kilderry said.

“They all loved his dad and now with Ollie playing there is a common interest in how he’s going.”

Originally published as Pat Rafter steps up to mentor Sydney Swans draftee Oliver Florent