G. Kuerten/P. RAFTER 6-1, 6-3 An Interview With: PATRICK RAFTER Finals 8/12/01 

MODERATOR: Questions for Patrick? 

Q. Patrick, it's obviously very disappointing for you, losing a third straight final, but considering the way he played, does it make it any easier to you? RAFTER: Yeah, it does make it a bit easier, sort of taken out of my hands a little bit. The last two finals, I guess I've been very, very close, been one or two points and it could have been mine. But today, I never had got myself in that position, and largely because, you know, Guga just played too well. 

Q. Are you surprised that he was able to play so well, considering, you know, like how tough it was for him the last couple of days and even today? RAFTER: Yeah, sometimes that can work in your favor as well. You often find that sometimes if you go and play a singles match and you go see a doubles match, you see the ball very well and you see it very big, and looks like exactly that's what happened today. He got himself into a bit of a rhythm. He served extremely well. I've never seen him serve that well before. I guess it worked in his favor today, where sometimes it can be the complete opposite. So it's always a little dangerous. 

Q. Can you talk about the improvement in his game in the four years since he kind of burst on the scene? RAFTER: Well, I mean, he's generally always had the same style of game, but, you know, today is a hard, sort of hard to judge because, I mean, everything he did was, was just phenomenal. It was incredible. So, you know, you can't fault with anything like that. But, you know, he believes he can win on all surfaces now so it's good for him. 

Q. The one time you had a chance to break him back in the second set, break point, did you think the ball hit the net? RAFTER: Yeah. And the first one was a let, and the serve, I stopped instantly fully just for a second. But, you know, that's the way it goes. And I guess I had a lot of frustration in me. Things weren't going my way. He was hitting half lines on big points, and just little decisions and that causes things. So all that sort of thing is a little frustrating, and it was just an unfortunate time to have a decision like that. But that's the way it goes, and, you know, you got to try to take any chance you can get at that stage and try and get back in the match. It wasn't meant to be. 

Q. You talked a few days ago about needing to get more fired up mentally for the final. Did you feel -- how did you feel mentally going into today? RAFTER: Yeah, I felt pretty good, yeah. But I guess the last couple have been, you know -- obviously, at Wimbledon, you're going to be fired up. So it's not as if I wasn't fired up for it. But, you know, today was just a case of, of being two different players out there, really. Just two different, two different divisions of players, you know. He was exceptional, and I take my hat off to him. So today wasn't a good example of trying to work out how to get back in the winning circle. 

Q. Do you think he was just better today or do you think he's elevated his game higher than you ever thought was possible? RAFTER: What was the first part of the question? Q. Was he just better today or do you think he's better than maybe you thought he was? RAFTER: No, he was definitely on fire today, no doubt about it. Everything he did, he did well and, you know, we all have these days. He'd come out and play exceptionally, and today was his day. And today was a little bit confusing. The match went very quickly. I was trying to work my way back into it, but you run out of time very quickly in those situations. I just can't -- couldn't work out a way in time to get back into the match. 

Q. You mentioned his serve. Can you talk a little bit about his returns? How much you could get in trouble behind his serve? RAFTER: I didn't serve well in the very beginning. I didn't have much stick on the serve so I had given him a good opportunity to make returns. But at the same time, he's a long way back. Not too many guys can play from back there, but he does it and he does it very well. And I had a lot of pressure; and his next pass shot, passing shot was also very good. I was hitting my volleys very short or in the corners. I wasn't giving myself a good chance of holding serve. 

Q. Patrick, when you say things go so quickly out there, was there a point where you sensed this isn't going to be my day? RAFTER: No, because you always hang in there. I always felt like I could try to get back into it. Even the last game, you know, if you get that break back, it's a bit more psychological and positive energy towards you, and that can sometimes turn a match, and I've seen it turn many matches before. So I was always waiting to hang in there and hope for a break. 

Q. The last couple of matches, you were down in the first set but you were able to come back. What was the difference today? RAFTER: Oh, just Guga, he shut the gates very early on and never let me back in. I think with Lleyton, he let me back in. He played, you know -- I played an okay game, but he sort of made a couple of unforced errors. But Guga gave me nothing of that today. 

Q. All week long we've talked to people about favorites for the U.S. Open. His name never comes up. He's number one in all the races. Why do you think that is? RAFTER: Well, I guess he really hasn't proved himself this time of year. Generally, you see the winners of the U.S. Open perform very well in the lead-up tournaments and it's happened on numerous occasions over the last decade. That's for sure. And now Guga has proven that now it's probably time. Maybe he has a good chance. So in the past, I guess it was fair not to call him a favorite. But right now, I think you have to look very closely at how dangerous Guga can be there. 

Q. Is the way he played this weekend an attention getter for everyone, you think? RAFTER: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it was good, you know. It was very impressive, especially today. 

Q. What's your mind-set now that you keep getting to all these finals but haven't been winning the titles? RAFTER: Oh, they'll fall. Something will happen. It's bound to fall off; break their ankle or something. Q. Were you hoping for that today? RAFTER: You never want to wish that upon anyone, but yeah. You keep going out there and stay in those situations, it'll turn around. 

Q. Did you go to sleep last night having no idea who you'd play? RAFTER: Yeah, you know, I went to bed probably about, oh, 11:30, midnight so I didn't really know what was going on. And I woke up and read in the paper or saw it on ESPN this morning. So it was sort of a funny mind-set not knowing, not able to get a game plan. 

Q. Did you or your coach call here to monitor, see what's going on? RAFTER: I think Pete did, but I went to bed. So looking outside my window, I could pretty well judge -- 

Q. And in your mind, are you thinking this is a great situation for me? RAFTER: Yeah, but at the same time, it can also be that total turnaround, as I said before, it can work the exact opposite. We played two matches. I played two matches in days before and gone out and just played exceptional in the second match. You know, and Guga is fit enough to, to be able to do that. And it worked very well for him today. Sometimes it's good for them not to play during the day, if he hasn't played a day match, and it's very different from playing from the night to the day, and he got a bit of a taste of how everything was moving around today. So I don't think it necessarily hurt him at all. 

Q. Forgetting the result today, do you feel at this stage fresh enough to keep going the next two, three, four weeks? RAFTER: Yeah. I feel okay, but, you know, I think there's probably going to be a down period at some stage, but I'm not going to try and think of that. I'm just going to try and keep playing as strongly as I can and, you know, and if I continue to play well, then I'll keep it going, because once you're on a roll, it's sometimes hard to stop. 

Q. Why was it so difficult to return his first serve? Is it the placement or hard to read him? RAFTER: Both, mate. 

Q. Pat, on the second serve, with the kick serve off your backhand, because it's bouncing so hard, does that deter you from trying to chip and charge, get in on the second serve early? RAFTER: On the first court, I was doing okay. But the second court, it's always a little bit trickier, you feel like you're in at the court when you're trying to chip. Your court's pretty well open. When you do it in the first court, you pretty well got center court. You can balance yourself in the middle. I didn't get myself into a rhythm today. I couldn't get myself into a situation where I could put him under pressure. He just, he had a very good first serve, and I tried mixing it up on the second serve by running around, but I didn't hit the ball very well when I did that. Just wasn't working that well today. 

Q. How do you like Cincinnati overall? RAFTER: We're not in Cincinnati. Well, I played well here the last three years that I've been here. It's a very quiet week. And, you know, generally try to see a few movies and that sort of thing, but it's, as I said, very quiet. But I'm not here to go out and party. I'm here to concentrate on tennis and that's what I do. 

Q. You've always been a favorite here at this tournament. Did you have any feelings that this could be the last time you play here? RAFTER: Yeah, it could be. 

Q. Did you think about that at all, and how did you feel about that? RAFTER: Well, I guess I was a little bit disappointed at the end of the match so I wasn't really feeling anything but disappointment. I didn't take time to, to sort of realize what was going on, that this could be the last time. But a few matches and a few tournaments I have played in the past, I have sort of realized it and felt it, but it wasn't the case today. 

Q. Where did you realize it? RAFTER: I remember the French Open, Indian Wells, Tipton, those sort of tournaments. Q. Did you take anything with you? Some people take little blades of grass from Wimbledon and stuff like that. RAFTER: No, I don't take a chunk of hard court out of the court. I wouldn't do that. Q. Did you have a sledgehammer with you? RAFTER: No, they wouldn't be happy with me. 

Q. What do you do to psyche yourself up for a game, generally? Do you have any ritual, behaviors, anything like that? RAFTER: No, no. It's a very, very personal question. MODERATOR: Any other questions? 

Q. After losing the first set, did you make a change for playing the second set, or did you play the same game? RAFTER: I just tried to go back to basics after the first set. I tried a few things in the first set and looking for ways he could be weak, and I didn't find anything. So I decided in the second set, I would go back to my basics and try and just go back to first serve, serve and volley and first volley. And then that's all you can do is try to go with the strengths, but my strengths really weren't strong enough today. They weren't really effective enough, and I tried and take my chances on his serve; and again, I only hit one or two, and I guess I rushed them a little bit and didn't play the right point. 

Q. What department of his game do you see the biggest improvement? RAFTER: He served very well today, for sure. 

Q. He hit so deep, it makes it pretty difficult for you to get in there? RAFTER: Yeah, I guess the whole rhythm of the match, just I had no control over it. And you know, you know, I dropped a few short balls and he was standing up there. Everything that I did, he sort of had an answer for. What I needed was just a little bit of time. I needed the match to go a little bit longer and me to work my way into it and take a couple chances, and I never got myself into that situation, because once I know -- if I can say two-all, three-all, four-all, 30-all when he served, something like that, that's when I know that the match can turn. But the match got away too quickly in the second set for me, and then panic starts setting in. You want to try to rush things and go for something more or take a bit of an extra chance, and that's what I was trying to do, but it just didn't work. 

MODERATOR: Anything else? Thanks, Patrick.

P.Rafter/L.Hewitt

6-4, 6-3

An Interview With:

PATRICK RAFTER

Semifinals

8/11/01

MODERATOR: Patrick moves into his third

final here in his last three appearances. His lifetime

record against Guga is three and three; and three and two

lifetime against Henman.

Questions for Patrick.

Q. Patrick, what are your expectations if

you have to face Guga tomorrow?

RAFTER: I don't know. I mean, just go

out and play my game again. It's worked pretty well in

the past. I've had pretty good success against Guga.

Lost to him twice on clay, once on indoor, and beaten once

on the hard court -- once indoor and once on grass. I

think the conditions here suit my game pretty well. Guga

is a great champion, and he'll know what to do and how to

play me.

Q. When the match started, you seemed

sluggish. Once you got that break back, it really turned.

RAFTER: Yeah. I play a lot of practice

sets against Lleyton, as well, and I never get off to a

good start in a practice set. So I thought of it like

that. As the match progressed, Lleyton put in a pretty

bad game to hand it back to me, and from then on I played

really well, and put -- kept the pressure on. And there's

no complaints at all after that.

Q. Talk about that first set point. Seems

you have one of these every day now.

RAFTER: What, the line call?

Q. Yeah.

RAFTER: No idea.

Q. No idea?

RAFTER: I don't know what it looked like

on TV -- it was out? It was out. I was busting my guts

to get from side to side. I couldn't see. I thought it

and replay it.

Q. Do you think that might have meant a

momentum swing, though, kind of like your Blake match

earlier in the week, he hits a ball into the net and you

got a better start in the second set?

RAFTER: Yeah. Lleyton played an

ordinary game and gift-wrapped it for me. I was trying to

put him under pressure, and I was trying to force the

errors, and he did give me some cheap ones. But Lleyton

kept fighting, and almost got an opportunity to get in the

match. And you don't want to give someone like him the

opportunity.

Q. Earlier in the week you talked about

approaching finals like every match, and maybe that wasn't

the best thing. How do you approach tomorrow now?

RAFTER: I think I'm going to be really

focused and very concentrated, go there early and try to

get a good start. I'm going to go out there and be really

pumped up this time. Hopefully, it will work.

Q. Earlier this week you talked about your

six-month hiatus. Has a good week of tennis changed that?

RAFTER: No. I had a good week last

week, and it didn't change.

Q. You're still hoping not to miss tennis?

RAFTER: I hope so.

Q. Does it feel like '98?

RAFTER: I committed myself to the

US Open, I generally play my best tennis and have my good

results at the US Open. Starting the last four, five

years I've done really well in the American summer.

Obviously, last year was unfortunate. I felt like I was

playing pretty well, and the shoulder gave in. I've

probably got to address my scheduling in the future when I

come to this time of year.

Q. So you're talking about scheduling next

year?

RAFTER: Oh, yeah. If I was to play,

you're exactly right.

Q. It's funny you should think like that.

RAFTER: I've been talking about it quite

a bit in the locker room. What are you playing? Indy and

and Long Island. And, geez, you're going to drop dead by

the US Open. Yeah, maybe. Yeah. I'm pretty sure I'm not

coming back, anyway.

Q. If you only take off six months, you will

be back here.

RAFTER: Well, there you go. I will be

back here.

Q. Do you feel as bad after this match,

physically, as you apparently did yesterday?

RAFTER: No. I was never going to go --

I was just sort of going within myself today. And the

match yesterday, I had to go out and work extra hard to

get back into the match. That really tired me out. Today

I was a little bit tireder from the word go, but I kept it

the same level. I just tried to stay the same and keep

the energy, in case I need a third set, as well, and

cruise along. I'm sure Lleyton wasn't feeling great. He

was fighting hard the beginning of the second set. He was

running down balls. He must have been tired.

Q. These six months, whenever they start,

are they at all planned, or just whatever happens?

RAFTER: Nothing is planned.

Q. All in Australia, though?

RAFTER: No, back in Bermuda.

Q. Does that mean you're willing to skip the

Australia next year?

RAFTER: Yeah. Yeah.

Q. So after Davis Cup?

RAFTER: Definitely.

Q. You don't care about the Masters?

RAFTER: I'll play the masters if I make

it, in Australia, yeah. I want to make it badly. But the

Australia Open -- the Masters is actually before Davis

Cup. I'd like to play the Masters through and Davis Cup.

But the Australian summer, I'll be just driving around

Australia. I want to have a look around. I haven't seen

much of it.

Q. What could change your mind?

RAFTER: To play the Australia Open?

Q. About the six-month hiatus. Is there any

way that could happen?

RAFTER: I have no idea what could change

my mind. But I don't think much. It's not going to be

advice from anyone. It's my life. I think it's time to

make my own decisions. And this is what I want to do.

Q. Six months, but is there any thought in

your head that maybe after three weeks you'll find, oh, I

miss the tennis? Is that a possibility?

RAFTER: Yeah.

Q. Then what happens, you stick your six

months --

RAFTER: Back to the clay court season.

That's the time I take off, anyway.

Q. Pat, you handled groundies pretty well

today, kept the ball deep and made your passes when you

had to. How would you rate your ground game right now?

RAFTER: That surprised me as much as

you. My ground game's been really good. I wasn't happy

against Pavel. But leading up to the night matches I

played in Montreal, I hit the ball very well from the

baseline. And I've been doing it all year. My backhand

has improved a lot.

Q. Do you think that might have thrown

Lleyton off, he couldn't yank your cord?

RAFTER: I generally don't get his

sliding serving very well. Today I got it back and got it

back deep, and got myself a chance. And to me, I don't

want to rally too much with Lleyton. I'll do it if I have

to, but when I get that opportunity, I'll go for it,

trying to get to the net, something that doesn't allow him

to control the baseline points.

Q. Lleyton had a lot of matches this year,

four tennis Masters Series semifinals, is he getting close

to winning these? What's that next step?

RAFTER: He's going to make the next

step. He was close in Stuttgart. He played a pretty good

match against Pete at the US Open last year. And he'll do

it. I don't -- I don't want to put any pressure on him,

and I don't think people around him should. He's a great

player, and it will come. If he gives himself that

opportunity to win, like Murphy's law, you give yourself

enough opportunities, he'll turn it around.

Q. If you could choose, who you like to play

tomorrow?

RAFTER: Guga's a good guy, I really

don't mind. I don't care who I play tomorrow. It will be

a good match, either way.

Q. Can you talk about Henman, since you've

talked about Guga?

RAFTER: Yeah. Timmy and I have played.

I've played very well against Timmy this year in the Open.

This year's definitely the best match I played against

him. And he's played some good matches against me, as

well. We know each other's game pretty well. And

there'll be a lot of serve-and-volleying going on. But we

don't have overpowering serves, so you're not going to see

this huge serving going on. Good net exchanges and

passing shots, and good tennis, as well.

Q. Does it remind you much of '98, you

played Guga, you were like the hottest guy. Pete was

still number one. Kind of a similar matchup to that?

RAFTER: Yeah. I guess so. But I'm a

lot more confident playing Guga than if I'd be playing

Pete. With Guga I feel like I can go out and beat him at

least fifty percent of the time. I'm sure he has the same

attitude about me. But when you play someone like Pete,

you never feel that confident playing Pete, just hope you

can get close and give yourself an opportunity to win.

But Pete's one of the greatest players of all time.

Q. You still feel that way?

RAFTER: Yes, I'd take Guga over Pete any

day. It's nothing against Guga, just to say how good Pete

is.

Q. Can I explore your mind-set a little

more? If things go as you want, you don't miss playing

tennis at the end of the six months, would you walk away

from the game completely, or go to coaching or --

RAFTER: I don't know. I've already had

these discussions this week. And I have no idea.

Q. Is that a little frightening, not

knowing?

RAFTER: Not at all. It's exciting.

Q. Obviously, playing a lot in the summer

has been successful for you in the past. What is the

logic behind you wanting to play so much before the

US Open, is it because you need to play a lot?

RAFTER: If you get a couple good starts

and good draws, you can go -- not expend a lot of energy,

have a day off in between, and you're fresh by the second

week. That's the way I've always approached it. And by

me playing a lot of matches, when you've got confidence,

nothing beats having confidence,

Q. You said earlier is this week you cut off

a lot of your off court training. Do you think you need

these events coming up to stay in shape for the US Open?

RAFTER: I've had plenty of matches now.

I've gained confidence. Knowing that I can do that

through the US Open, I'll only do the off court fitness if

my tennis -- if I lose. But other than that, no, I'll

continue, just keep playing the matches. And if I start

feeling a little bit injured or anything, then it's time

to take a tournament or a week off.

Q. Judging by talent and not results, to

date, how do you see Lleyton, compared with some of the

young guy, like Roddick?

RAFTER: As a very consistent performer.

As the stats show, he's won a lot of matches. He'll

always be that type of player. He'll always be around

definitely as high as any of the other young fellows.

Q. You don't see him suffering because he's

kind of small?

RAFTER: That's his weak point,

physically being that much lighter. But he makes up for

that with an incredible mind and a great tenacity to win.

Q. You've given him advice in the last years

on the court or off the court, how receptive is he? Does

he have a mind-set of what he wants to do or --

RAFTER: Depends on how he's thinking.

If it's the right time to talk to him about advice, as I

said before, I think yesterday, Lleyton's got his own mind

and knows where he's going. And he's always been very

mature for his age. And he knows what he wants a lot of

times, and at times he doesn't. He can't change the way

he is, and I'm not going to try to change him. That's

just the way it is. We are different characters at the

end of the day, but we have a lot of in common, and that's

why we get along so well.

Q. You've a great career, about to take six

months off, at this point in your life, what is your

biggest fear?

RAFTER: I don't really have any fears.

I'm not trying to think that negatively. I don't. I

think life looks pretty good right now.

Q. Lleyton said he thought you were playing

the best tennis of your career right now. Do you feel

that way?

RAFTER: Yeah. I think I've developed

even this year more than the other years. My game's

getting better, my groundstroke's are getting better, and

I think my game is as good as it's ever been.

Q. What is the shape of your shoulder. Does

it bother you, or okay?

RAFTER: It feels tired and dead certain

days, other times it feels pretty good. But I'll keep a

good eye on it the next couple weeks before the US Open.

Q. The fact that you can see the end of your

pressure off of you? Can you just go out and play and not

worry about it?

RAFTER: It hasn't changed the way I play

on the court, or the way I think on court, as well.

People say, do you feel more pressure because this is the

last chance of playing this tournament, you have to

perform here, or is it -- exactly what you said, does it

take pressure off. And it hasn't changed the way I've

approached any tournament or match at all this year.

MODERATOR: Okay.

P.Rafter/G.Rusedski  5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4

An Interview With:

PATRICK RAFTER

Quarterfinals

8/10/01

MODERATOR: With the win today, Patrick

now has advanced to his third semifinal here in

Cincinnati; won 13 of his last 14 matches in Cincy, and 15

of his 17 matches going back from the start of Wimbledon.

All right. Questions?

Q. You talked all week about wanting to give

this up, and you keep playing better and like you don't

want to give it up. What's that all about?

RAFTER: Today I felt good. It would

have been very interesting to see -- well, no, just don't

even go there. The last few matches I've really struggled

after the first set, but today I felt pretty good, and it

gave me the drive to keep going. And I felt, you know,

like it was the first set again during the second set.

But after the second set, I was very tired. I think Greg

was as well, so...

Q. What did -- in the last hour, what did

you do to get back to where you feel better and stronger,

like now, and in light of all the things that have gone on

in football?

RAFTER: In the last hour?

What do you mean?

Q. Since the match, I understand you eight a

lot of bananas?

RAFTER: Just now?

Q. Yeah.

RAFTER: How do you know that?

Q. That's what I heard.

RAFTER: Who told you that? You've got

your little source in the locker room, do you?

Q. I mean --

RAFTER: No. The first ten or fifteen

minutes I felt really bad, light-headed, and pretty dizzy.

And you got to be careful at that stage. Doug you kept a

good eye on me. Drank Gatorade, and salt, and walked

around a little bit. I have dropped a few pounds of

liquid out of my system. So my job tonight and tomorrow

morning will be to replace all the fluid, and try to get

carbohydrates back into me, as well.

Q. So no bananas?

RAFTER: I forced one banana down.

Banana, not banano. Didn't go down very well. See if I

can chuck it up later. Didn't need that information?

Q. No, too much.

After playing four matches in a row, in

the middle of the day, in the extreme heat, how do you

feel physically and mentally going into the next one?

RAFTER: I'll know more tomorrow. Right

now I feel pretty ordinary. That's expected. As I said,

I've got to replace as much as I can. Listen, I'm pretty

sure I'm not going to bounce back as good as I am today,

but I've got to overcome that and do my best tomorrow.

Q. Yesterday you said if you'd have lost the

first set, you might have had a hard time coming back.

And you ended up in that situation today.

RAFTER: Maybe I would have come back.

Hard to say. I felt pretty ordinary after the first set

yesterday, and today I felt fine.

Q. Did you get some energy from the crowd

today?

RAFTER: Crowd was great really good.

They're into it. But in the third set, you know, you're

getting closer, it's 3-all, 4-all, you know you don't have

much more to do, you try to not cramp, you're drinking a

lot of fluid, just -- you walk around very slowly. And

we're both doing that. We're both suffering pretty badly.

And the crowd really enjoyed our suffering. It was good.

Q. And there were two critical points of the

match. He double-faulted in the tiebreak, and second, you

broke his serve in the ninth game of the third set. Did

you feel you had him on the hook and let him get off of

it?

RAFTER: I had plenty of chances. I felt

I was the better player throughout the match, I just

wasn't taking my chances very well. It's very

frustrating. After a while, something is going to happen,

he's going to double-fault on a breakpoint. I kept

waiting for him to -- he played very well, good passing

shots, just had to turn around sooner or later. And I

took my chance finally after 14, 5 (inaudible).

Q. When he complained about the call, did

you see the ball out?

RAFTER: Did I see the ball out on my

way, looking back and -- no. It dropped in. But then

Norm said it was out. But it was in. It just got the

back of the line, and that's good enough. It was an

unfortunate call for Greg, no doubt about it. Put him

15-40 up, you never know if he's going to break or not,

but it's a good position if you get up a break when you're

feeling tired, it's a good psychological advantage. But

some you get, some you don't get.

Q. In the event that you play Lleyton, can

you talk about your relationship with him, how far it goes

back, and how it is now?

RAFTER: Well, I first met Lleyton when

he was 15. He came into the Davis Cup, tying Sydney

against France in 1997. And, you know, he was starting to

show signs even then, in practice he'd be giving us a hard

time. And it was good. He's a great little competitor.

And he's developed into a great, great player. I have a

lot of respect for Lleyton's game. And if I do happen to

play him, I won two against him, it's not a great record.

I'm sure we'll go out and give it our best effort. We're

good mates. We leave that aside. We're professional

enough to go about our business on the court. We're not

going to get in each other's face or anything, but we're

both trying to beat each other.

Q. Did you try to mentor him at all?

RAFTER: No. Psych him out today. Yeah,

if he wants some advice, every now and then I try to give

him advice. But Lleyton knows what he wants and what

works for him. And he's a smart little fellow, and he

knows what works. Every now and then I can try and give

him advice on, I don't know, whatever, on his career and

what works. But if he listens or not, it's up to him. A

lot of time he doesn't, but we're different characters, as

well.

Q. Is your relationship to Lleyton more like

an older brother or a more like a good friend?

RAFTER: I got enough brothers, I don't

need another one. I don't know. I haven't beaten the

shit out of Lleyton yet, so I don't know if we're like

brothers or not. No, we're good mates, you know. And I

think when you're good mates -- I'm good mates with my

brother as well, and he's sort of become like family, I

guess. If Lleyton ever needed help, I'd be there for him.

Q. Can you say something for the future of

Australian tennis. Mark Woods (inaudible) Mark

Philippoussis (inaudible)

RAFTER: Mark Woods is 50 years old.

He was also (inaudible). But, yeah, tennis is --

Australia is, we're looking for someone else, yeah, we

are. As I said, Mark Philippoussis is struggling. We

don't have a lot of young kids coming through, showing a

hell of a lot of sign just yet. And, you know, there

always seems to be one that comes through, though, even if

they're a late bloomer. So I just hope that someone comes

along.

Q. Is Lleyton the future right now, I mean,

is he the guy --

RAFTER: Yeah, but it's always good to

have two or three guys, isn't it, for Davis Cup, and for

all those reasons. But he's, oh, definitely, he's really

proved he's the future. Even when he's been 16 years old.

No, he'll keep it going for a lot longer years.

Q. Is there any reason you can give why you

traditionally play well in Cincinnati?

RAFTER: Not really. It's always hot

here, and the balls and the court sort of suits me. It

moves around quite a bit here. So these are hard court

conditions. So I do seem to always play well in these

sort of conditions, hot, jumping, the balls moving all

over the place. It suits my type of game.

Q. Is this kind of support typical for you?

I remember when you played Pete, people seemed to be on

RAFTER: Pete wasn't real happy in '98.

He was a bit happier in '99. He had a bit of a go at the

crowd for not supporting him.

Q. Is this normal for you, to have people

come to your side?

RAFTER: It depends on who you play. If

I play Andre, I expect people to root against me. He's

got a personality, a character about him that people love.

And it's great. It's great for tennis. And I do seem to

have quite a good following here in America because of the

results I have had here in Cincinnati and the US Open.

It's always nice to have them on your side.

MODERATOR: Anything else for Patrick?

Q. There was a real buzz around the press

box as we were watching that match. Were you finally

going to break, what was going to happen. Do you get the

same buzz in the middle of a match?

RAFTER: I definitely felt the adrenalin

pumping throughout the match. It was a good feeling. But

it was frustrating at times. It's another chance, is he

going to make a good half volley, going to come in, have

another great serve. I was very excited when I won, when

I broke him, because at that stage he was tired, I was

tired, and you just sensed that the match was sort of over

when that blow was dealt. And it was a good adrenalin

feeling. And I haven't had that for a while.

Q. And will the break that you're going to

take, is it all about are you going to miss that adrenalin

rush?

RAFTER: Don't know. I think that's the

question, will I miss the competition and will I miss that

feeling of getting into tough situations and feeling the

rush. It's really hard to say. But I really hope that I

can find something else in my life that can give me a

really good fulfillment and enjoyment. I'd really love to

walk away, I really would. But if this is where I'm

supposed to be, this is where I'm supposed to be.

Q. Does it make it easier or tougher, if you

keep winning?

know. When you win, everything goes well, you feel good

and your enjoying yourself. Does that make it harder? I

really don't know, but -- and in the end, on the flip

side, if you're losing, you don't want to go out on a bad

note, as well. That's always been my attitude, I've

always wanted to go out winning.

Q. Are you surprised how Marat Safin is

going (inaudible)?

RAFTER: It's always a tough adjustment

after you win a Slam. I went through a tough time for a

little while. I think a lot of guys do. He's very young,

coming to terms with what tennis and pressure is all

about. He'll be back. I'm not surprised at it. I

thought he may have dealt with it a little bit better, but

he'll learn. And Mats is around him, and Mats is a great

guy and will tell him what to do. And he's working very

hard, and that's a good sign.

Q. Who would you prefer to play tomorrow in

the semifinal?

RAFTER: For the game, it would be great

to play Lleyton. But I don't have a good record against

Lleyton, and we don't match up pretty well. And he'd like

to play probably me. But, you know, I think as an

competition and so forth, serve-and-volley, against

baseline and all those sort of things, it would probably

be good if I played Lleyton.

Q. Do you know anything about Ivan?

RAFTER: I know he's got a great serve,

he's playing well, stays back and rips the ball pretty

hard, and he's got a lot of confidence. I don't really

know a lot about him but -- yep, okay.

MODERATOR: Okay. Good luck tomorrow.

P.Rafter/J.Blake 
7-6, 6-2 
An Interview With: 
PATRICK RAFTER

Third Round
8/9/01 


MODERATOR: Okay. Patrick's now won 12

of his last 14 matches here in Cincinnati, going back to

the beginning of '98. And tomorrow he takes a six and

three lifetime record up against Greg Rusedski. 

All right, questions. 


Q. What did you think of James Blake? 


RAFTER: Very good. You know, he served

well, he mixed it up, he came in a little bit, and that,

keeps the returns I guess and how to hit the returns. I'd

like to see him probably get a little bit more consistent

on his returns, put the other guy on a bit more pressure,

and I think he can start troubling a lot of guys and then

his belief, his confidence, hopefully his body stays fit. 

There's no reason he can't be a real good player. 


Q. You said on the TV, in a post-game

interview, you just didn't believe, maybe, he was going to

win that set. Does that make the difference, those

inches? 


RAFTER: That's the reason I said it,

that all signs show that he probably didn't have that

belief, maybe a little intimidated, I don't know. I guess

it's natural, we all go through it. And next time the

guy's got to play me, he'll be a lot more confident, I

hope, for his sake. It's good for him to play those

matches, he hasn't played a lot of them. He's just

getting that experience. I hope he learns from it. He's

a good kid, a smart kid. I'm sure he will. 


Q. You still breathed a sigh of relief when

you saw it hit the tape and drop? 


RAFTER: That volley? 


Q. Yeah? 


RAFTER: Oh, yeah, it was a long way

back. I don't know what (inaudible) was like today, it

would have been interesting. He would have been

confident. He looks like a real confident player, as

well. When he's up, he swings well. If he timed a few,

the second set might have got his way. 


Q. Did you believe you were going to win

that set? 


RAFTER: The first? No, not really,

after love-40, game, after that, I just thought you come

into a break fifty-fifty. Then I hit a few bad shots and

I thought, I don't think it's going to happen. There was

no real sign for me of winning that. 


Q. He said in the second set he sensed

himself like holding back physically a little bit because

he knew he would need three to win. And he thought you

sensed that and turned up the screws a little bit? Was

that the case? 


RAFTER: I guess I read it wrong then. 

My sense of it was he was a little bit flat after he put

out so much yesterday. I read it he can't afford to let

up, he's got to win, the next two sets he's got to play

hard. He can't cruise. I'm coming up with a bit more

confidence and bounce in my step, he's going to be flat,

and he's got to pick himself up. Probably played that

part of the game a little wrong. He's got to go all out. 


Q. He said he learned that today. 


RAFTER: Oh, good. That's good, then. 


Q. Talk about playing Greg tomorrow. What

you expect from that, what you need to do against him. 


RAFTER: Have to serve-and-volley well. 

We both come in at each other. We go hard at each other,

and it's the goal of making more returns. He's obviously

serving well, the court also suits his type of game. So

whoever can serve-and-volley better will win it. I've

just got to try and get my chances on his serve, get them,

knock them back down low and pass him. He's playing well. 

He's got a great serve. He's serving well. He's a tough

man to beat. He generally always serves well, though. 


Q. Any thoughts about the balls last week

and here? A lot of the other players have been talking

about this, they think they're real hard, and flying real

fast. 


RAFTER: Well, my only problem with the ball is that

it's not the same as the US Open. Now, I'd

like the same consistent ball that we're going to use for

the whole summer. The good thing about the ball, it's a

little similar to the US Open ball, the Wilson ball. It's

sort of annoying we're not using the same ball. 

(Inaudible) ATP, over many years. They said they were

going to do something about it, but nothing has happened. 

Same thing happened on the clay court season before the

French Open. But the ball itself, there's nothing wrong

with the ball. It's quick and flying, but you got to get

used to it. If that's the ball, you got to get used to

it. 


Q. Is it any easier for different players,

certain players to get used to it? 


RAFTER: No reason it shouldn't be good

for Pete. If it's good for me, it should be good for

Pete, as well. 


Q. He praised you for the way you played -- 


RAFTER: Who, Pete did? 


Q. No, Blake. 


RAFTER: Okay. 


Q. -- the way you complimented him

afterward. And you've always been this way, you've always

been the nice guy. Have you ever -- 


RAFTER: I can be. If I don't like the

guy, then I'm not going to be like that at the end of the

match. I don't like everyone. And there are certain guys

that I'll do it for, and not. James appears to be a

really good fellow, a great guy. He's an honest guy and,

you know, the tour needs good guys like that, good men. 

And, you know, when I'm playing someone like that, I

always want to sort of play the game as fair as I can play

it, as well. So, you know, I have a lot of respect for

him as a person. He's a great guy. 


Q. What happened on the play when you

requested to play the point over? 


RAFTER: He didn't request anything, he

-- he heard -- he heard "let" and I didn't hear it because

I was sort of grunting while I served. But he heard it

and stopped. It must have been very obvious to him because he didn't play the return, he looked up at the

umpire. So I said, let's play it again. 


Q. So was the let called? 


RAFTER: No, it wasn't called. So I

said, let's play it again. I would have been pissed off

if I lost the game, at myself. 


Q. Do you do that kind of thing with second

thoughts? 


RAFTER: It depends who I'm playing. If

I'm playing someone I don't really like, too bad. 


Q. Like who? 


MODERATOR: Okay. Anything else for

Patrick? 


Q. Yeah. I was wondering, coming from where

you come from, it's obviously hard to travel home, now

you're going to take a break. Has your family sent you

any notices, your presence is requested for any events

during your time off? 


RAFTER: What sort of events? 


Q. I don't know, birthdays, Christmas,

events you've missed. 


RAFTER: I've never, ever missed a

Christmas. Birthdays I've always missed, they're used to

that. Nothing like that. Sort of comes from me, doesn't

it. They're not going to put pressure on me. We're grown

men. Though Christmas is something I always enjoy. I

love it. When I am home, I'll be doing -- I'll just do it

myself, go home for their birthday, whoever is there. So,

yeah. 


Q. I was just talking to Doug Spreen, and he

says like when players get injured they have to take time

away from the game, it's hard for them, they have a sense

of loss because they're used to being around all of their

friends, the camaraderie, traveling with all the guys. 

You won't be on the tour, do you think it's a big hole you

have to fill? It's obviously a big hole. 


RAFTER: No. Doug's full of shit. Every

one is different, but Doug does definitely have a point. 

Q. You feel you have an enough outside of

tennis? 


RAFTER: I have enough love back home. 


MODERATOR: Okay. Anything else? 

Good luck. 

P.Rafter/X.Malisse 
6-0, 6-3
An Interview With:
PATRICK RAFTER
Second Round
8/8/01


MODERATOR: All right. Questions?


Q. In a week like this, in these conditions,

is kind of conserving as much energy as possible going to

be a key as the tournament goes on?



RAFTER: That does help, but you never

know how -- you're going to go out there, how much the

other guy is going to push you or how well you're going to

play. So the quicker you get off, the better. But a lot

of times you can't control it.


Q. Is it nice, this early, to get off a

quicker one?


RAFTER: Yeah. Xavier gift wrapped the

first set for me, and threw away a couple shots the second

set, also, so...


Q. How much of an effect is there the next

day, then, will you be a little fresher tomorrow because

of that?


RAFTER: Yeah. Today really felt a lot

better than yesterday. I think conditions today are a lot

better. It's easier to play. So I think I naturally felt

better anyway. I hope tomorrow the conditions will be

similar, or a bit better for us. So Blake is a great

athlete, great competitor, so he's going to make me

workout tomorrow.


Q. Do you know much about him?


RAFTER: Not really. But he's obviously

playing very well. It's a great win to beat Clement. He

moves well, has a pretty good serve on him, as far as I

know, the little bit I can remember. But he's obviously

picked his game up a lot more, and playing better since

I've seen him.


Q. Given some of the things you said

yesterday, is there anything about playing now that you

really like or --


RAFTER: Getting off the court and

winning feels good. Getting off the court and losing

sucks. But, I don't know, things are pretty similar.

There's always a new goal. As long as you've got goals

for the year and you're striving for something by the end

of the year, and you feel like you're achieving those

goals, it feels good.


Q. Do you find, because of the heat, you're

much more prone to sort of get the match over with, it's

that much more of a mentality for you?


RAFTER: I just answered that question

before.


Q. I'm sorry.


RAFTER: You can look in the transcript.


Q. How dangerous is it to play someone like

Blake, who, again, you're just guessing, and obviously

he's improved?


RAFTER: The first few matches I played

this week have all been exactly like that. I've never

played any of them before. You're going out there with a

little bit of an unknown. I'm going to serve to the

backhand and he hits back, hang on, I won't serve into the

backhand now. When you're playing someone you know where

their weaknesses, are you get off to a reasonable start

and find your way around. But it's a danger. It

definitely is an unknown. You've got to be very sharp in

the first few games playing guys you don't normally play,

you haven't played for a long time.


Q. Do you ever go around the locker room or

lounge and ask guys about them?


RAFTER: Sure. I'll go to Todd Martin,

and I'm sure he'll tell me. You know, you don't ask

anyone from their country out of respect as much as

anything. And then you might ask some of the young

fellows. Maybe I'll ask Lleyton if he's played with him,

or other guys who practiced with him. Only guys who are

close to me. I'm not one to go up and ask someone that I

don't know.


Q. Some of the younger guys, the really

young guys from America are always being touted as the

next number one, like Roddick, and before him Gambill.

You didn't have that right away. You were 21 or 22 when

people said you were going to be really good. Is it

easier or tougher to have that tag on you earlier?


RAFTER: I don't know.


Q. Don't know?


RAFTER: Because I haven't come through

that sort of age and been a superstar at eighteen. I

really don't understand what it's like for them. I can't

put myself in their shoes because I haven't experienced

it. But I have to imagine it's got to be difficult. It's

pressure you don't need, specially at that age. A lot of

people don't get through it. But what you're looking at,

someone like Roddick, who is a superstar, I think, as

well, and he's got a good head on his shoulders. And I'm

looking forward to seeing him mature as a good player.


Q. Did you feel that way about Jan-Michael a

few years ago?


RAFTER: Yeah. But he's still developing

and learning things. If he continues to learn, then he'll

continue to climb. And some people are more (inaudible)

than others. And some people are naturally better than

others. And some have to learn. I had to learn. I

defined a different way. And it takes years to grow.


Q. What was the toughest thing to learn to

overcome?


RAFTER: I don't know. Your game just

develops naturally over time. And you just got to keep

working hard, and have the right people around you,

pushing you, and go at it. Probably go at it is a better

word. It's pretty important to have the right people

around you, and listen to them. If you don't have good

people and you listen to them, you're in a lot of trouble.


MODERATOR: Thank you.

P.Rafter/A.Portas 7-5, 6-3 

An Interview With: PATRICK RAFTER

First Round 8/7/01 

MODERATOR: Sunday he was in the finals at the Tennis Masters series in Montreal. First question? 

Q. Patrick, when you're coming off a tournament, when you advance so deep, is it easier because you've been playing matches, or harder because you're tired. 

RAFTER: What I find is the first couple of matches are very difficult in the tournament. I think it's great once you feel you're in a tournament, you feel like you're part of it, you don't worry. The first matches are the ones you have to get through. Having a good week definitely has it's benefits, because you've got confidence. There's nothing like it. I'm always a little bit scared, and aware that the first two matches are the pretty important ones to get through. 

Q. With that said, are you pretty pleased getting through this? 

RAFTER: Oh, yeah. Never played Portas before. I don't know what to expect from him. So it always makes it a little bit tricky. Just carried on from where I left off last week. 

Q. Can you talk, in general, about having the kind of year you have, some good results, but not winning? 

RAFTER: Frustrated as shit. Yes, that can be really annoying. It's great to be there, to keep yourself in those situations. But at times that sort of does become annoying after a while, that's for sure. 

Q. And what's the difference, is it fractional, is it something the other guy's doing, is it something -- 

RAFTER: Yeah. Well, I think it also, you know, a certain application towards the finals. I mean Wimbledon was something different. We were both very, very fired up to win that. But I've played some other finals within the last year, as well, where I've lost a few, and just really not applied myself in the best way that I could. 

Q. You're in the middle of the tournament, you've still got a Grand Slam to play, but in the back of your mind is the Davis Cup there? Do you talk about it? 

RAFTER: We do talk about it, but it's not really there just yet. The focus -- there's too many big tournaments beforehand. Because we are playing Sweden, a lot of the guys are here. We mess around and edge each other on a little bit. Too many big tournaments beforehand, too many things that happen before that happens, so... 

Q. Explain that having victories, you played at such a high level this year, it seems throughout that you remained steadfast you're going to take the six months off? Doesn't make you rethink it at all? 

RAFTER: Not at all. Not at all. It was good for me to take the time off, five or six weeks, in between the whole clay court season. A lot of guys didn't do that. It allows me to play better tennis, where I prefer to play. And guys got to take their breaks at some stage. I don't think guys do take their breaks enough. That's why I want to take six months off, see how much I really do miss the game. So I think there's a -- there's still -- the tournaments, need a break for everyone, allowing the guys to have breaks. It's not really fair this time. 

Q. So in your mind it's not really retirement, it's -- 

RAFTER: No. 

Q. You think you'll evaluate it during that time? 

RAFTER: Definitely. 

Q. There's been a lot of different winners, is there a sense there's a real changing of the guard here? 

RAFTER: I think so, yeah. I said that for the last year. It's great, great for tennis. Tennis needs it. It's the best time for tennis right now, you got some of the guys not wanting to go out. And these young guys are good, damn good. It's great for the game and everyone. Everyone can lose to everyone in any given day, as you saw last night. People think it's an upset, but it's not. It's a little, a little bit of an upset, but not to the point where everybody thinks. It's good, tennis is really good. 

Q. Is there anything that you can pinpoint that why, you know, there's so many people that are really a threat to win a tournament? 

RAFTER: I just think the professionalism of the sport is getting better and better, as well as the guys are applying themselves. You got all those guys applying themselves, they're going to get results because there are good players. It's a little bit like golf. Golf's got a lot of good players as well. 

Q. Kafelnikov made a statement a couple of weeks ago -- 

RAFTER: I'm sure it was a good one. 

Q. -- saying that there weren't enough exciting players on the tournament. As a veteran, how do you -- 

RAFTER: I don't know what we'll do when we lose Yevgeny. Suffer badly. Oh, god. That's pretty funny. I don't know if he's trying to be humorous or what, because it sounds very funny to me. 

Q. You think he's trying to yank the press's chain? 

RAFTER: I have no idea. I hope he is. 

Q. You said a few minutes ago you haven't applied yourself right in the finals. What do you mean by that? 

RAFTER: I think mentally more than anything, you know, just sort of having -- saying this is the one, and let's do it. I just approach it like any other match. Maybe I'm seeing it wrong, I don't know. What I have found is I've gone through a spell of losing quite a few finals in a row, and then winning quite a few in a row. I've gone through that through my career. 

Q. And throughout your career was that always your approach, just take a licking on the match? 

RAFTER: Yeah. Might be doing it wrong, I guess. 

Q. In the previous two years, with the shoulder problems sort of nagging, do you play with any sort of pain now? 

RAFTER: Not around the shoulder. I have other problems around the arm, but not the shoulder. 

Q. (Inaudible) shoulder? 

RAFTER: It's very good. I'm very happy with it. 

Q. Can you, I guess, expand a bit on the old guys not wanting to let go, or whatever? 

RAFTER: Tennis has been their whole life. And some people love it more than others, I guess. No one really likes losing, as well. You see the young guys come up, they're cocky -- not really cocky, they think they can win the old guys, and hang on. It's a bit of a psychological game between each other, through their mind, so... 

Q. Do you think one of the things that Sampras was talking about when he was in here, he asked Wayne Gretsky about how to train as you get older, and what are some of the things he can do to keep playing. Is it surprising that people like that, who have won so much are still looking for ways to stay out there? 

RAFTER: Yeah, I guess. This year I worked with (inaudible) for three years, and I decided I didn't want to train anymore, so I got rid of him. I'm looking for another way of getting -- I found my way get rid of him and not do any more training. 

Q. It's working out for you? 

RAFTER: Yeah. I don't know. Just sort of -- yeah, it's great for Pete if he wants to keep doing it. For me, I'm sick of doing it. 

Q. Is it as enjoyable as it's been? Are you having as much fun? 

RAFTER: Yeah, I am enjoying myself as much as you can, playing a sport that way, doing a job, you're applying yourself. So I think there is a certain amount of enjoyment I am still having. 

Q. During that six months, will you not pick up a racket? 

RAFTER: No. 

Q. Not watch a -- 

RAFTER: No idea. 

Q. No idea? 

RAFTER: Honestly, no idea. 

Q. What if you get to three months and you decide you're really missing it? 

RAFTER: No idea. I'll probably train. I'll always probably keep myself fit. So, I don't know. If I really miss it, then I might want to come back. 

Q. This will start right after the Open? 

RAFTER: No idea. The US Open? No, I'll do Davis Cup after the US Open. 

Q. When does your six months begin? 

RAFTER: I don't know. 

Q. You don't know? 

RAFTER: It won't be after the US Open. The Davis Cup, anyway, is right after. And if I win the Davis Cup, I'll definitely be playing. 

Q. Talk about your love for that. I've read that kind of drives you. 

RAFTER: Yeah. If I was having a bad year and the Davis Cup was part of the year, I'd stop after the US Open, I'd miss the whole European indoors because I just hate it so much, just stop playing. The Davis Cup will make me go to Europe and play. And once I'm there, I'll apply myself and do what I have to do. But being in that weather and playing indoors, it's a miserable feeling around there, no fun to play. 

Q. Weather's kind of miserable here this week, do you think it favors guys like you and Pete because you're serve-and-volleyers? 

RAFTER: Serve-and-volley is very difficult. You still need to spring to the net each time. If you stay back, you don't do that those runs. People don't realize there's a lot of physical exertion in serve-and volley. 

Q. How are the courts playing, are they fast? 

RAFTER: I just came from Montreal. You could ask Pete, he might be able to tell you different because he's had a week off and -- but I found the Montreal courts a little bit quicker, but here the ball's bouncing a little bit higher. It's a different bounce on the court, and the courts are exactly the same. 

Q. Would you say like medium fast? 

RAFTER: I'd say medium pace; medium fast, maybe. 

Q. You talked about being tired of a lot of different things, what is the main thing that is driving you toward this break? 

RAFTER: Not playing the indoor season. I don't know, I guess it's all the constant playing, constant pressure, and all those sort of things. I just want to see if I can do without them. Sometimes you just don't want to show up on the court, and some days you don't want to be there, and sometimes you don't want to perform. And when you don't perform, you get boo'd off, and you -- those things you don't enjoy. Sometimes the application can be wearing a little bit from playing very well and trying to break into the -- onto the tours. 

Q. So is it losing desire, then? 

RAFTER: I guess sometimes you lose a little bit.

Q. Do you hope that you don't miss it or hope that you do miss it? 

RAFTER: Hope I don't miss it. For me, I hope I don't miss it. 

Q. Do you see yourself maybe just concentrating on your charities, and that kind of thing? 

RAFTER: (Shrugged shoulders.) I honestly -- when I say I don't, I really don't know. 

Q. Are you going to be spending it in Bermuda or in Australia? 

RAFTER: I don't know. 

Q. You have got this pretty well mapped out? Got the answers mapped out? RAFTER: Certainly do. 

Q. Is this different, how your career went, was it all you thought it would be? Did you think the traveling would end up being so much, and the success? 

RAFTER: I never expected the success anything like what I've achieved, nothing like it. So, yeah, I guess, you know, the commitments always become a bit tiring as well. So the better you're doing, the more commitments you have, the nicer you have to be. 

Q. You mean that's not natural? 

RAFTER: It's not natural. I'm such a fake. I just want to be an asshole. Looking forward to it. Thanks a lot.