Two-time US Open winner Patrick Rafter makes a rare appearance on court tomorrow evening in an exhibition match to mark this week's 10th anniversary of the XL Capital Bermuda Open.

But the Aussie star confessed yesterday he still had no regrets about his decision to retire from professional tennis last year.

And he still had no idea what the future held in store.

Rafter, flanked by fellow Australian Andrew Ilie and American veteran Todd Martin, both of whom are competing in this week's Open, told a press conference he was delighted to be back on the island which he once considered a second home, but as far as competitive tennis was concerned he was content to sit on the sidelines.

Watching the action rather than being a part of it, he said, “wasn't hard at all”.

“In fact, I really enjoy it.

“Playing professional tennis is a lot of hard work, and for me that was particularly the case in the last year,” said Rafter, referring to a troublesome shoulder injury which contributed to his decision to call it quits.

“I found it hard to get up for tournaments. I just found I wasn't waking up wanting to play tennis.

“We all have our breaking points, and I had mine.

“And anyway, if I came back there's no guarantee I'd be as good as I was. There are so many good, young players around.”

Asked of his future plans, the 30-year-old laughed: “I'm actually enjoying what I'm doing now, which is absolutely nothing.

“I've been very lazy and I thought I'd snap out of it after a year, but I really haven't.”

Regardless, Rafter will be hoping to produce some of the magic which earned him two major titles and a spell as world number one when he meets Swede Mikael Pernfors, the XL Open's first winner in 1993, in tomorrow evening's pro-set exhibition.

“I'm looking forward to playing again. I haven't actually been playing at all at home, so things will be a little bit rusty. But I have managed to get a few days practice in. Both myself and Mikael will be playing hard. We'll try and have fun but at the same time be competitive.”

As for his long-time association with Bermuda, Rafter admitted he no longer considered himself a resident.

“I'm back in Australia now and that's where I live. But I'll still come to Bermuda when I can, probably about a month each year.”