Who Pat Cash picked as his toughest ever opponent on the ATP Tour and said was even better than Andre Agassi

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When it came to playing tennis, Australian star Pat Cash did what plenty of his compatriots couldn’t and lifted a Grand Slam title.

Cash took Wimbledon by storm in 1987 and claimed success despite going into the event ranked number 11 in the world.

Ivan Lendl was thrashed in straight sets in the final after Cash had come through in comprehensive fashion against Jimmy Connors in the last four.

That success was as good as it got for Cash with the Australian Open escaping his grasp twice with two final defeats in 1987 and 1988.

Cash never made it beyond the fourth round at Roland Garros, with clay not really his thing and he made the semi-final at the US Open in 1984.

The Australian enjoyed a 15-year career as a singles competitor playing from 182 to 1997 before continuing to play singles until 2006.

• READ MORE: The player Lleyton Hewitt said had the perfect game to win Wimbledon

The player picked by Pat Cash as the best he ever faced

Cash was around in an era where some of the best players ever have been on the tour.

He enjoyed battles with Connors, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker during his time as a player.

In an interview with Todd Woodbridge 10 years ago, Cash was quizzed on who the greatest player he ever faced was – and there was one particular performer who stood out.

Cash said: “There was a lot of good players, particularly at the end of my career, everyone was good or at least better than me!

“I think overall, out of the ones I played, I never played Sampras, so I’d say (Boris) Becker. He didn’t have a weakness, he had massive power, he was always super competitive, he had a great volley.

“Some would look at guys like Agassi and go well okay, but I actually did alright against Agassi and I played him a few times.”

Boris Becker vs Pat Cash head-to-head

It’s no surprise that Cash selected Becker as the best he ever faced, given that he beat him once and lost to him on three occasions.

Becker was actually the number one player in the world when Cash won the title at Wimbledon, with the German dumped out in the second round by Australian outsider Peter Doohan.

Becker beat Cash in two matches at Wimbledon, with the other coming at Queen’s Club in preparation for the 1985 tournament.

Cash’s only success over the man he considered his toughest opponent came in an event in Sydney at a time in his career when he was bang in form.

Cash was always an entertaining watch on the court, and in winning Wimbledon means he’s achieved something that many Aussies have tried and failed to do over the years.