Nicole Pratt to race cars
A bit different from tennis, no?
LESS than a week after retiring from professional tennis, Nicole Pratt already was gearing up for her next challenge — a spot on the grid in this year’s formula one Australian Grand Prix celebrity race. Pratt’s 18th Australian Open became her last after a battle-weary, 34-year-old knee failed to do what her mind wanted it to during the opening round. “This is it. Last Australian Open, last tournament, last match,” she said, after going down to Russian 14th seed Nadia Petrova. Grand prix organisers already had decided that this year’s celebrity race would be open only to sportspeople and quickly enlisted the two-time Olympian. Pratt’s best performance in a grand slam tournament was at the Australian Open in 2003, when she reached the fourth round, becoming the first local woman to do so in 10 years. “It was a tough decision (to retire) and a little disappointing, but I basically knew my knee wasn’t going to hold up, so in the end, it was an easy decision,” she said yesterday. While admitting she is a novice at motor sports, Pratt said she was looking forward to lining up against confirmed starters and former AFL stars Nathan Buckley and Luke Darcy. “It’s something totally new and I don’t know what to expect, but I’ve heard the training is excellent,” she said. “I’m not sure about winning but I’ll certainly give 100%, as I always do.” The Age
