'PATSY' CHAPTER 4

Brett Patten or 'Patsy' as he is known by many of his fellow tennis players is a man who I first officially met just before we went to Europe. I had seen him at many junior State championships in Perth but had never actually been formally introduced. I saw him play doubles with his brother Darren at the East  Fremantle Junior Championships in 1984 from memory and I was impressed with his ability as a then 12 year old.
If I was to describe patsy in a word it would be 'confident' as he has always been just that both on and off court. Patsy has always had a swagger about him not unlike the AFL star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin who thrives off self confidence to make him play better. Patsy was not in my age group in the juniors so I never got to play him but I would love to have had the opportunity long before our rather belated over 40's clash in 2014. That's another story but officially it was  6-0, 7-5 to Patsy and it's on record, I would have had more of a chance when he was 12.
When I first rang Patsy to ask him about Europe I noticed he had a way about him over the phone that oozed both a calm nature and a laid back type of attitude towards life in general. I liked the idea of travelling with Patsy to Europe as I felt we had similar personalities particularly after our initial practice session where I thumped him easily. (He probably doesn't remember that )
Now as far as our European trip was concerned the most endearing thing I remember about Patsy was his confidence in playing guys from the other side of the World, he had no fear. Many 18 year olds would have played a conservative type of game and simply been happy to put up a good performance. Not Patsy, he wanted to belt those guys.
The way in which he handled both the pro European crowds and his European opponents was a credit to his game and his mindset. Patsy's serve and volleying on the clay in particular was remarkable and he slid into his volleys like it was a surface he had played on all his life. Perhaps his time on the occasional slippery grass courts of Perth put him in good stead for the clay. Whatever it was it was entertaining to watch as he confused many opponents who were no doubt asking the question "What's this Aussie doing ? We only go to net to shake hands".
Patsy won more money than he went with on the European tour of 1991, he was in a word, brilliant, a cocky, arrogant young West Aussie who took the game up to his more seasoned opponents with a confidence that belied his 18 years. I have only ever seen Jonny Mac or Stefan Edberg serve and volley that well on the clay and Patsy won't mind me saying that as he learned his style off both of those champions.
Patsy eventually became World Number 1 for age group 35-40 years and he is testimony to the statement he once sent me on a text. 'Thommo it aint how good you were, it's how good you can still become".
Well said Patsy and well played ........