Patrick Rafter
Defeats Jamie Delgado Wimbledon
6-3, 7-6, 6-1 27 June 2000 ATP
An interview with: PATRICK RAFTER
MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, Pat Rafter. First question, please.
Q. What did you think of your performance?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's got to be better than that, I think, if I want to
progress a bit further on. The serve started off a little rusty again. It's a
part of my game over the last couple of weeks that hasn't been great. It
picked up in the third set, and the end of the second. I think I found what's
wrong with it. Now I can go out there and hopefully play a better match. But
the rest of the game is pretty good, so I was happy with that.
Q. Can you tell us what the secret is?
PATRICK RAFTER: No real secret. Just getting rhythm, I think, and that's what
I needed. I'm going to go out there tomorrow and have a good hit and
hopefully it will still be there.
Q. Did that occur to you during the match?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I've been working on it. I changed a few things around
during the match just trying to look for that right rhythm and the right
feeling on my serve. I probably changed little things that you wouldn't
notice two or three times throughout the match, just trying to find it. Just
found the right way.
Q. As someone who relies on his serve, because of the style you play, are you
surprised at how few players are actually playing serve-and-volley tennis
these days, and if so why? How do you explain it?
PATRICK RAFTER: The way I see it, it's very difficult to chip-charge. I
didn't chip-charge very much because I find it very difficult to stand up on
the grass. It's always been a problem. I heard something the other day, it's
psychological. But it's just very difficult for me to cover the net when I
get in because I feel like I have to guess at this stage. Maybe the early
matches, the grass is still quite green, and it's still a little bit slippery
out there. The second week, if I can remember from last year, it was
definitely a little bit better to stand up on. If I can get through this
first week, then hopefully second week I'll be able to move better.
Q. How are you feeling overall? You said last week if you could get a good
week of practise and matches in - you did, so how do you feel?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's a good match to get through today. The first hit I've
had at Wimbledon. The courts are very, very different to what I played last
week. But I think the wins, having a bit of confidence definitely helps.
Q. The shoulder, have you had any problems practicing or anything?
PATRICK RAFTER: No.
Q. How encouraging is that then?
PATRICK RAFTER: Very. It's just fun. It's just good to feel good again when
I'm out on the court and to know that it's going to hold up.
Q. You're obviously one of the seeds to benefit from what happened to the
Spaniards. What's your take on the situation?
PATRICK RAFTER: It would have been nice to see them here regardless. I think
Pete Sampras said a pretty good point the other day about, you know, they
should be here. If they're not happy with their seeding, then prove it. Maybe
they can do that at the French, as well. I said that before. If the French
want to seed that way, then they probably should.
Q. Were you expecting to be seeded?
PATRICK RAFTER: I wasn't really expecting to be seeded. I was just very happy
to get a seeding, very relieved and very happy. I think the way I look at it
is do you prefer to play a guy like Krajicek or do you prefer to play a guy
like Ferrero on this surface? Then you go straight back to the clay courts.
Do you prefer to play a guy like myself or do you prefer to play a guy like
Gaudio on the clay? Then they should seed that way, as well.
Q. If there was a computerized system in the ATP Tour which weighted court
surface, player's last six weeks, for example, and their history at this
particular tournament, spat out the seedings out of the computer rather than
a committee of human beings, could you support that, not just the French and
Wimbledon, but the entire tour?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I haven't really thought about it. I think the hard
courts you can probably leave alone a little bit. You know, I'd probably
leave the hard courts. I think the Spaniards - I'm just using them as an
example - and the South Americans play very well on the hard courts, as well.
I think the clay and the grass can be an exception, though.
Q. Everything you've been through since the shoulder surgery, what
perspective has it given you on the game and your life in general?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I realise that it can be over at any time. I'm just
pretty happy out here doing what I'm doing and trying to enjoy the most of it
right now. There's no guarantee the shoulder will be ready or fit in three
years, so I'm doing everything I can, all the strength work, I'm at the gym
all the time. I have a lot of other little exercises I have to do every day.
If I can continue that, then hopefully I can get through another couple years.
Q. It's not something you really realised beforehand; you felt more
invincible?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I hadn't had too many serious injuries that knocked me
back like the shoulder. I hadn't had the problem. It's a career-threatening
injury. This is the first one I've really had to deal with.
Q. How do you compare your sort of hunger for success now with a year or two
ago? Do you want it more or is it waning?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, it's pretty similar, I think. As long as I'm fit and
healthy, I think at this stage that seems to be the major thing I've had to
contend with. When I felt like the shoulder has been sore, then I haven't
enjoyed myself. But right now it feels good and I'm starting to enjoy myself
again. I will continue to play well.
Q. Can you assess Lleyton Hewitt's season so far and his run here?
PATRICK RAFTER: How do you assess it?
Q. Can you do that? Are you surprised at all?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, not at all. I think the assessment of Lleyton, what I
will say is the same as anyone here will say. He's a great player on every
surface. He may be ready this week. I said he wasn't ready at the French, but
I think he could be ready to do something here. He's great. He's awesome on
every surface. He's going to be someone who is going to have multiple Grand
Slam titles beside his name.
Q. Has it bruised your tennis ego to have the year you've had so far after
all the success you had in the previous couple years?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. Because I've done so well in the past, I feel like this
is a bonus thing. If I can get fit again, then I can play good tennis and be
competitive at the Slams again. That's really what I want to do, get to that
stage again. Now, I guess the players have probably looked at me as someone
now that is a lot more vulnerable than what I used to be a few years ago or a
couple years ago, even last year, probably someone that you can pick on a
little bit more. That's okay. I've got to go out there and prove to myself
and them that I can play good, competitive tennis again.
Q. There's been a heavy emphasis on the returning game in recent years. Have
you noticed people's service returns have gotten better and better? Are they
still on the upswing? The emphasis seems to be on the return game.
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I remember back about four or five years ago, people
saying, "You know, these big servers are all coming out of the game now.
What
are they going to do to deal with that?" I said, "Well, I think the
game will
evolve around people starting to move better, returning better to deal with
the big serving." It seems to have probably evolved that way a little bit
at
the moment. I think it's going that way.
Q. Is it tougher for you in a typical match, are you facing guys who are
doing more with the return?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I still think -- I'm not someone who serves a lot of
aces. I try to serve into the corners to get a first volley. I don't serve
for aces. But I still think if I serve well, I can still have a lot of
opportunity. I still think it's going to be better than someone who returns
well. It doesn't matter how well they return. If they can't have a good swing
at it, then the service is still a stronger part of the game.
Q. You mentioned - excuse me if I have it wrong - at one point you were
thinking if it really wasn't going to go well this year, you might retire.
When was that and what were you thinking then and what are you thinking now?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it was a problem with the shoulder again. Every time I
trained hard, the shoulder would break down. But a lot had to do with the
sort of work that I was doing too. I probably wasn't doing enough of the
right work on my shoulder. Now I've gone back to the basics and done the hard
work again on the shoulder. When I seem to do that every single day, which I
have to do for the rest of my career, it seems to be good. Yeah, at this
stage, I'm working hard, playing a lot of matches. It's holding up well.
While that's happening, then I'm happy to play.
Q. Do you have any kind of plan on maybe this year or next year?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, not really.
Q. Do you know now how often you have to stop playing for a couple of weeks
before you play again? Do you have a feel for that?
PATRICK RAFTER: When I have my breaks?
Q. You go back a couple years to where you played virtually every tournament
leading up to the US Open.
PATRICK RAFTER: Right.
Q. Then you relaxed a little bit the next year going into the US Open. You
were at that time also playing a lot of doubles. Since the shoulder surgery,
I'm sure you've thought about, "I need to take a blow here and there to
give
it a rest." Do you have a sense of when to back off and take that rest?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's one of those Catch-22 situations. When I play a lot of
matches, I play a lot better tennis than when I don't, than when I go in
fresh to a tournament. My attitude now is I've got to play those matches. I'm
going to play a few more doubles. I'm going to go in the summer to America
and play doubles, as well.
Q. With Lleyton?
PATRICK RAFTER: With whoever wants to play. So I feel like I've got to play
the matches in order to play well at the Grand Slams. That's what I'm going
to do in the summer in America, just get fit by matches, as well.
Q. How do you assess Delgado's game? He's been a top junior. What do you feel
about his prospects?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I think he's just come back from injury, is what I
understand. He's not taking a lot of confidence in. I think as the match got
on during the second set, he probably gained a bit more confidence and
probably realised he can do well. When you do come back from injury and
searching for those wins, when a big point comes, it's very hard to know what
to do. I think that's the indecision he's in right now. I think it's a lot of
his confidence. He seems to move very well. There's no reason why he can't be
a top hundred player. From there, it's sort of up in the air.
Q. You said Lleyton might be ready. Do you feel you're ready?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. I'll take one match at a time. That's the way I
want to look at it. I'm not trying to put pressure on Lleyton here at all. If
it's not now, it's going to be the next couple of years for Lleyton. Am I
ready? I don't know. I'm just happy to be out there playing each match.
That's what I'm looking at right now.
Q. What's your take on the Mike and Boris Becker involvement with Mark
Philippoussis?
PATRICK RAFTER: That's Mark's call. If Mark is happy with that, then perfect.
Q. Mark has admitted that, "I'm not really achieving my potential, been
maybe
a little bit lazy." Do you agree with that assessment?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm not really around Mark very much to see. I hardly see him
in the locker room. We don't really talk about his training and that. What I
probably -- I probably speak to Gavin a bit and ask how Mark is going. He
said he's training very hard. Maybe someone like Becker is going to be great
because he'll look up to Boris and really respect what he says, the work
ethics he needs to do to be a top player, because we all know his potential.
Maybe it might be great for him. We'll just wait and see.
Q. I've read recently that you did a bungee jump. Was that true? With your
shoulder injury, did you not sort of worry about that?
PATRICK RAFTER: They tied me to the ankles, not my shoulders, mate (laughter).
Q. Still a risky thing to do when you have an injury.
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, yeah, I think I read over here in England they gave
someone the wrong length of rope, as well.
Q. What made you do it?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. Just got to do these things every now and then,
don't you? Keep challenging yourself. I guess over the last couple years,
I've been a little bit looser with things I've gotten up to. For instance,
that sort of thing, skiing. They're not smart things to do, but.
Q. What was it like?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's my second time. That was a lot scarier. I'll leave it
alone now. I've done it.
Q. Where was the jump?
PATRICK RAFTER: Hamburg.
Q. How close were you to the ground when the rope stopped jiggling?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. Everything was a blur.
End
Heineken Trophy
daily bulletin 23 June 2000
Patrick Rafter (27) has been unbeaten for twelve successive matches at the
Autotron. The two-time champion refuses to take back for Wimbledon. He wants
to win every tournament.
Q: Last year you were out of the Tour because of a shoulder injury. Was that
a difficult period for you?
PR: It's always good to have some time off, but I could not spend that time
the way I wanted it. That was frustrating. I wanted to get away from
Melbourne and get back to Queensland and I've had to travel a lot. But I did
not miss the competition.
Q: You have told other players that your shoulder is eighty percent on good
days and fifty percent on bad days.
PR: That's been a while. Now I'm happy to tell that the joint is 100 percent.
I've been feeling very good for a couple of weeks. I don't know how the
shoulder will hold up when I have to play many matches in a short time
period, but at the moment it's looking good.
Q: The Wimbledon seeding committee seeded you 12, 15 places higher than your
position in the world ranking list. A surprise?
PR: I really had not expected to get a protected status, my results in the
past period certainly don't deserve that. But I'm very happy with the
gesture. I have the feeling I can win on grass and I think the Wimbledon
committee finds that too. Rusedski, Krajicek and Philippoussis are seeded
too. I had thought maybe one or two players would be, but definitely not four.
Q: Last year in Wimbledon you reached the last four. That was your best ever
result. Are you going to London now with bigger expectations.
PR: I just look at it one at the time . I know who my first round opponent
will be, but I haven't looked further in the draw. I don't even want to know.
If I play well, I have a chance to equal my results from last year. But I'm
not thinking of that now. I'm playing in Rosmalen and I've come here to win,
not to play a few matches and then leave for Wimbledon.
Q: How are your views on your fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt?
PR: He came through faster than I thought and he has developed into a player
that will do well in all Grand Slams. Only Roland Garros will be difficult
for him, with all the strong claycourt contenders. They are hard to beat in
best of three matches. But in the other he is a threat to everyone.
Lleyton is a person that could have four or five Grand Slam titles. He is
still developing, but he will be one of the best players around next season.
Q: How does Hewitt cope with all the interest in him, and the extra pressure?
PR: He knows exactly what he wants and he makes sure nothing gets in the way.
That is amazing, being him only nineteen years old. He just won't be fooled
around with.
Q: Not even by you?
PR: It did happen, but now that he is higher ranked than I …… If he needs a
big slap on the head, I'll be there to give it him!
END
TRANSCRIPT OF
THE CNNSI CHAT WITH
PATRICK RAFTER, 21 June 2000
CNNSI_Host: Welcome to today's Wimbledon chat
with Patrick Rafter. Hi Patrick. Thanks for
joining us.
Pat: Thank you.
CNNSI_Host: From KC in Long Island, N.Y.: How
do you feel about being #12 seed at
Wimbledon? Do you think it's fair that Wimby
is the only slam with a seeding committee?
Pat: I think it is fair, but I also think
that the French Open could do it as well. If
the French Open wanted to work it back the
other way to help out the clay courters, they
could do it too.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: What's your goal for
Wimbledon?
Pat: I'm just starting to hit the ball a
bit better now. I don't know my whole draw,
and I don't like to look that far ahead. I've
done well there the last three or four years;
especially last year, I did very well. I'd
like to at least make the fourth round or
quarterfinals.
CNNSI_Host: From Gernblandston: Patrick -
Thanks for coming! Are you preparing for
Wimbledon any differently this year, to help
keep the shoulder in good shape, etc? Also,
how do you feel about the upcoming hard court
season?
Pat: I'm not preparing differently this
year. The shoulder is 100 percent right now.
I'm just trying to get some confidence. The
hard court season has always been very good to
me. I really hope I can do well there again,
and if my preparation is good, I'm sure I can
have good results there again.
CNNSI_Host: From Linde Rich in Houston: Have
you looked at your quarter of the draw? What
do you know about your first round opponent?
Pat: All I know is who I play first
round; I don't know any more than that. I
don't like to know any more. I like to play
one match at a time. The guy I play is an
English boy, and he'll have a lot of local
support. It's a match I should win and I'd
like to think I will win it. But I never take
it for granted, so I never play any match
easily. I'll be playing 100 percent.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: What's the weather
outlook for London right now? I hear it is
bad. Does that affect your practice at all?
Pat: I'm not in London right now; I'm in
Holland playing a tournament. It just started
raining today. The English weather, you never
know what you're going to get.
CNNSI_Host: From Carol Showalter in Wisconsin
Dells, Wis.: Could you tell a little about
your visit with the Pope?
Pat: It was a bit of a nervous
experience. It was a very quick meeting; very
short. We didn't know what to say or what to
do. We kissed his hand and asked his blessing
and walked away. It was as quick as that. A
very amazing experience at the same time, to
even say hello to him.
CNNSI_Host: From KC in Long Island, N.Y.:
What is your best memory of Wimby as a pro?
And what is your best childhood memory of
Wimby?
Pat: Best memory as a pro would be...
probably playing Andre Agassi in '93 and
qualifying. Playing center court was a dream.
For childhood, it was staying up until 2 or 3
a.m. in the morning in Australia, watching
Wimbledon on television. Then to do and play
where you watched as a kid is a dream come
true, to actually be there.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: Are you aware that
Pete Sampras has not mentioned you as a
contender for Wimbledon, but that he has
mentioned your fellow Aussies? Do you think
you have the element of surprise working for
you, now?
Pat: Well, I have not had great results,
so it's fair for him to say that I'm not a
contender. I know where I'm at at the moment
and my preparation is getting much better than
what it was. So, maybe it might be a
surprise, but it's fair for someone to not put
me in that category right now as my results
haven't been that great up until now.
NNSI_Host: From Sarah: How has skipping the
Australian Open this year contributed to your
desire to win Wimbledon?
Pat: No change... each tournament I play,
I'm very excited just to play and to try to
win. So I don't approach Wimbledon as any more
special this year because of not playing the
Australian Open.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: I read at some point
that you felt uncomfortable with being a
celebrity - has it calmed down now, or not?
Have you become more comfortable with it?
Pat: Well, things have definitely slowed
down -- I don't have to do as many
appearances, which is nice. The public has
probably died down a little bit too. It's a
nice change that's been good I think, because
I have a little more time to myself.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: With what female
player would you like to play mixed doubles?
Pat: Never played mixed doubles... But if
I had to, I'd probably play with any
Australian girl, I suppose. I'd like to play
with people from my own country -- any
Australian girl, I'd say. I imagine they're
looking for Kournikova. (laughs)
CNNSI_Host: From Mariza Galvao in Wiesbaden,
Germany: I just would like to know, if you
feel tired of playing tennis at the moment?
That's the impression I got while reading and
listening to news when it comes to your
shoulder injury. As a big fan of your kind of
tennis and therefore a big fan of you, I think
it would be sad to see you stop playing soon.
Pat: It's sort of depressing. It's also
depressing talking about my shoulder all the
time to the media. I answer that question many
times each week. The shoulder is good now,
and I'm starting to enjoy myself a bit more.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: Have you seen the
photos of your bungee jump in Hamburg that are
in Tennis Week? How was bungee jumping?
Pat: I have not seen the latest issue.
The bungee jump was very scary. I will not do
it again.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: Is there a player
that you least likes to play?
Pat: I've always had trouble with Wayne
Ferrera. Also Lleyton Hewitt. I haven't beaten
him before. And no one likes to play Sampras.
CNNSI_Host: From Jason: Who was your
inspiration as a child?
Pat: I loved Borg for a long time. He was
one of the first players I ever really liked
and respected a lot.
CNNSI_Host: From Benjamin Eliasoph in
Washington, D.C.: There has always been two
major different styles in tennis, those of the
patient clay court player and the hard court
attacking player. But recently it seems there
are different tours (American & European) for
each style, and players choose the events and
venues that suit their style. Do you think
this separation is hurting the pro tour?
Pat: That's a good question. I don't like
to go to the clay very much. If I'm playing
well on clay, I can have some very good
results, but for me, it's better that I take
my break that time of the year. I don't know
whether it's hurting the tour, but you might
be right. I'm not sure.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: Hicham Arazi called
you a "warrior" after your first round match
against him in the 1998 US Open. Do you feel
that same kind of determination and drive as
you face Wimbledon after having been a
semi-finalist there last year?
Pat: Well, that was a unique match at
Arazi because he was beating me comfortably
and I fought back. When you're down, you fight
harder and I always fight hard whether
winning or losing. Every match I play, I'm
always playing at my hardest. If that means
being a warrior, I guess I'm like that every
match.
CNNSI_Host: From Guest: How do you like the
current ranking system? I have read that many
of the players dislike it.
Pat:: Well, I think it's as confusing as
the last one. For many of the players... It's
the first year, so maybe it will be better
next year. We're still learning it. So far,
it's not making things easier; just more
complicated for us.
CNNSI_Host: From Ani: You have good results
on grass as well (one of a handful of players
who have multiple grass titles). Are you
getting to like it more as a surface?
Pat: I play well on certain grass courts,
moreso than others. The ones I feel very
comfortable moving on, I generally have very
good results on. The tournament I'm playing on
right now is a very good surface. Many other
ones -- like Wimbledon -- are quite slippery.
So I sometimes struggle to have my best
results.
CNNSI_Host: From Joanie in Mobile, Ala.:
Patrick, your high backhand volley is one of
your most beautiful shots--has that come
naturally to you or is that something you have
spent thousands of hours practicing?
Pat: It was something that I used to play
around with a lot; we used to try to bounce
it over the back fence when we were young. It
has taken a while since the shoulder surgery
for it to come back strong. It's feeling a lot
better.
CNNSI_Host: From NYC: How do you keep fit off
court? I have heard you like to surf, are
there any other activities you enjoy that also
keep you in shape?
Pat: We kick an Australian rules football
around a lot. We like to play that game. I've
just taken up surfing. I like to try to do
many other sports to keep fit -- maybe touch
rugby. Those are the main sports I like to do.
CNNSI_Host: That's all the time we have for
today. Thanks again for joining us, Patrick.
And good luck at Wimbledon.
Pat: thank you very much.
END
Patrick Rafter
defeated by Cedric Pioline 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 French Open 1 June 2000 ATP
Q. Not so bad for a loss.
PATRICK RAFTER: It was okay. You know, no losses are very fun, but it was --
I hit the ball okay. Nothing great. But it's -- at least it's showing some positive
signs. The shoulder held up well, I'm happy with that.
Q. What do you take out of this match, more confident?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think so, yeah. Definitely another match is good. But the
shoulder is probably the biggest thing I'll get out of this - to come back good
again. I just have to keep doing the work, and now I know how to control it.
Q. So do you feel it at all out there anymore or more the preparation that you're
lacking?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think it was pretty evident in the match that I was really
short of practice and hard work and definitely matches, just made some stupid
errors at the wrong time. And you can't afford to do that against guys as good
as Cedric. So it just needs a lot of hard work again, and if the shoulder can hold
up to it, then I'll be able to do it.
Q. Is it tough being a slave to the shoulder?
PATRICK RAFTER: Mentally, it's very tough, yeah. It is. Physically, you can
always pack up shop and go home, but it's -- it's just one day it's good or one
week it's good, another week it's not. And it's just tough to work out your
schedule and your training. Some days you just don't train at all. I'm someone
that needs to keep doing the work if I want to play well. I think that's the thing
that drags you down.
Q. You said you didn't give yourself any chance of winning here. I know it's a
still a few weeks out. What would you say your chances at Wimbledon are
looking at?
PATRICK RAFTER: It depends on what form we're taking, Rosmalen, so we'll
see how that goes first. But there are only so many guys that can win
Wimbledon. I think there are plenty of guys that can cause upsets, but not
many guys can win it. So it's not like here where there are many guys who can
win the French Open.
Q. Did you feel last year -- your footing, the shifting grass, the slipperiness
doesn't help your game. Do you feel you made advances there last year you'll
take back this year?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't really know. I played really well there last year. I
know in '96, I also played fairly well, probably my two best years I've had there.
So a lot of it is your draw. You don't want to get a tough draw. You don't want
to be in a bad section, and I don't know if I'm going to be seeded or not. So
probably not. So I'm, you know, could come up against a lot of tough people. So
it's going to be some interesting draws at Wimbledon this year. There's going to
be a lot of very dangerous floaters running around.
Q. You said there are only so many guys that can win Wimbledon. Are you
counting yourself among one of those at the moment?
PATRICK RAFTER: In the past I have. Now, I think I have a reasonable chance
if I can get some confidence and some good training on the grass and good
preparation. I definitely consider myself a chance, yeah.
Q. How do you like Mark Philippoussis' chance here? Do you feel he has a game
that can do damage?
PATRICK RAFTER: He has a chance on every surface he plays on, yeah. It's
just a matter of when he wants to come out and play. We all know his potential
and it's just a matter of when he's ready to do it on any surface.
Q. Do you sense he's readier now?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, he wasn't before. You know, before this week started,
he had some really bad results, so I don't really know.
Q. Pat, Cedric said you're not far from your best level, just a question of
concentration on the more important points. What do you think about that?
PATRICK RAFTER: You know, some good signs I got out of today. Cedric just,
whenever he needed a big point, he knew what to do. I was someone that when
it came to a big point, I wasn't quite sure what to do. And he's playing like a guy
that can win this week. He's sort of, to me, he was pacing himself in that match. I
don't think he played exceptionally well, but he played well enough to win and
he's still got some really good tennis left in him, and he's someone who's going
to do very well here, I think, if he can -- we all know -- I know he can play better
than what he did today.
Q. You played a great match here with Bruguera four years ago. Any of that
come back to your mind yesterday, do you have fond memories of that even
though you lost?
PATRICK RAFTER: Today? Oh, it was good being out there. It was a great
crowd, great atmosphere, I enjoyed being out there. You just don't want to be
humiliated out there, and I always have that feeling now when I go on the court.
I just want to get close and have a few -- maybe win a set. I think the worst thing
is to go out there and lose very easily.
Q. Lleyton Hewitt was -- just looked like he was coming back from one set down
when we came in here. What do you think his chances are?
PATRICK RAFTER: He is another guy that can do very well here. I don't know
if he's ready to win the tournament. I think he can do very well, quarters, semis,
something like that. He's someone that will be a contender in the next couple of
years here I think. I still don't think he's found his niche here on the clay just
yet, but I think definitely in a few years he'll do good. He'll cause a few upsets.
Q. Do you think Lleyton is like Mike Tyson? Jeff Tarango compared Lleyton to
Mike Tyson, the boxer, yesterday. He's your doubles partner. Do you find him
like that at all?
PATRICK RAFTER: Tarango says some strange things. Just a typical Tarango
comment, I think. As --.
Q. He says he's nervous, mannerisms.
PATRICK RAFTER: Does he know Mike Tyson, does he? (Laughing.)
END
P. RAFTER defeats G. Pozzi 6/3, 6/1, 6/1
31 May 2000
Q. Pat, you must be feeling pretty happy after your win today?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it's great to get out there and to win.
You get out there not knowing how it's going to go, how you're going to feel.
Pozzi is probably not on his best surface; he didn't play as well as he
could have. That took a bit of the pressure off today's match.
Q. Are you surprised it actually went that well?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I am very surprised. It's good
because, you know, because of the rain yesterday it
gives me -- I'll probably have to play tomorrow. So it
was good that the match wasn't that tough, because
maybe I have to play Cedric and it's going to be a
very tough match.
Q. Pat, it was obviously a very short match. How do
you assess your fitness after that? Obviously you say
you're glad to have had a short one. Where would you
assess yourself after the injury problems?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's very hard to assess your fitness
after a match like that because you weren't really
pushed. But I wouldn't like to see myself in a big,
tough match right now; I don't think I'm ready for
that. But I would probably play one, but I don't know
if I could play two.
Q. Although Pioline obviously will be a tough match?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it will be a very tough match
but, you know, he could also be very, very easy as
well. So I just hope I can go out there and play good
tennis and give him a good match and see how it goes
from there.
Q. Pat, how is your motivation at the moment?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's just very hard because the
last few days it has rained and I probably hit about
two hours in the last five days, so I haven't done any
training at all. I am hitting the ball quite well, but
it's just frustrating not being able to hit very much
and not doing the hard work. When the shoulder gets
right, then I'm sure the motivation will come back and
I can start doing the work on the court.
Q. I'm not sure what's been asked. Is clay something
that you feel like you could warm up to over the next
week or so?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I've only got a week left on the
surface, this week and next week and that's it for the
rest of the year for me. I'm happy to see it go.
(Laughing.)
Q. Everyone's dismissed your chances here this year.
Did you give yourself any chances of going anywhere?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I dismissed them as well. I won my
first match. I mean I haven't dismissed the second
round. Obviously I don't put myself as a contender at
all.
Q. Do you struggle coming into a tournament knowing
that for so long you were a contender? How different
is the mind set now to come in thinking, "I've got no
shot"?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's sort of frustrating and you
wonder why you're out here playing because you know
you're not giving yourself a chance to win it, but you
got to keep telling yourself that you're doing this
for your shoulder, you're doing this to get some
practice and then get back into it.
But it's still very hard going out on the court and
not knowing whether you're going to get killed or, you
know, if you might get lucky and win a match. It's a
strange way. I've been feeling this the whole year
pretty well, and at this stage things haven't changed
from that. I want to go out there, give myself the
best opportunity, but it's just not happening.
Q. Do you want to be somewhere else?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yes and no. I know in the big picture
it's important for me to be out here if I want to have
a realistic chance at Wimbledon, the US Open, you
know, the US Open and obviously the Olympics and Davis
Cup. You know, these are things that I'm looking
forward to more. But right now, it's hard to get up
because you just don't know how you're going to
come up each day and how you feel. It's a strange
feeling being out on the court.
Q. What do you consider your chances playing Pioline?
According to you, what are his weak points and his
strong points according to you?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, Cedric is just a great player.
He has no weakness. Some days he just wakes up on the
wrong side of the bed, and I hope that will be the day
when I play him.
My chances are -- we've always had very good matches,
very close matches. I think we have a pretty -- like
3-all or something like that head-to-head. Obviously
the last time was unfortunate circumstances at the US
Open, but I give myself definitely a chance of
winning. But I know I'm going to have to play very
well, and so I still think I give myself 50/50 of
winning.
Q. Pat, how much faith do you have in your ability to
snap out of what you're feeling right now?
PATRICK RAFTER: It will come when I've done the hard
work and when I do the hard work is when the shoulder
is right. It's as simple is that.
Q. How right is it would you estimate?
PATRICK RAFTER: The shoulder right now, well, it has
its good days and bad. Today it was no problem, but I
haven't been able to do the work leading up to it. I
am someone who works harder off the court before the
tournament starts and even when I'm playing the
matches, so I'm working harder before the matches even
start. So it's -- I think I'm going in there being a
little bit underdone.
Q. Are you trying to work all this out by yourself or
do you have help? With your shoulder and with such a
big program, I mean, you've outlined the Grand Slams,
the Olympics, Davis Cup, are you working with anybody
on that?
PATRICK RAFTER: I have to address my medical side of
things I guess. Maybe I need to start travelling with
someone now. But I am still talking to my physio back
home in Australia, and the problem stems from me, you
know, it's coming from me not doing the precise work.
I'm doing a lot of work on the shoulder, but not
necessarily the precise work, the boring stuff that
you need to do day in, day out. I'm just not doing
that enough.
Q. And just more psychologically, are you working with
anyone?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I've never worked psychologically
with anyone. I don't believe in that. It turns you
into a nutcase and I don't want to be like that.
END
Hanging on the telephone with Pat Rafter May 2000 "The Mirror"
England
With Wimbledon fever upon us, Australian tennis superstar Pat Rafter,
the reigning US Open Champion (*?), is hoping his shoulder injury won't
hold him back. Pat, 27, who will be in Australia's Olympic team, lives
in Bermuda, but we tracked him down in Paris for a bit of a chinwag on
the blower.
*Note: reigning US Open champion is Andre Agassi
Us: What time did you get up?
Pat: 9.20am - I had a couple of beers last night. I had to be out at
9.40, so I missed breakfast. If I've got early training, I'm up at 7,
but if I've got a match at 2, say, this is normal. I don't go to bed
until midnight. Before grand slams like Wimbledon it's hard to sleep, I
wake up with that sicky sort of feeling. Still, you know you're ready,
so I quite enjoy it.
Us: Who was the first person you spoke to today?
Pat: My girlfriend Lara. I said, 'I'm going, bye-bye!' We've been going
out for over two years, but this is the first year she's traveled with
me. It's much easier on the relationship, and a lot of fun. She's a
Sydney girl, a model, so she can occupy herself. I don't need to keep
ringing up to make sure she's OK when I'm out training all day.
Us: Where are you right now?
Pat: In the dining room of the Hotel California in Paris, where I've
been for the French Open. It's just off the Champs Elysee. Lovely, but
I'm ready to go now. Had enough. I'm just trying to find a little bit of
form. My life is always hotels. Has been for ten years, will be for a
few more. I'm sick of it, oh God, yes. That and airports.
Us: What are you wearing?
Pat: A pair of dark-blue jeans. Oh God, I don't know what they are. I
just buy a new pair every year. Wait, let me look - oh, they're Boss.
Ah, such a yuppie! Reebok sneakers and a Reebok T-shirt. Pure white,
getting ready for Wimbledon. I'm shocking with clothes, I'm just a
typical Australian messy dresser. Better in my shorts, there you go.
Us: What was your most recent purchase?
Pat: A black knapsack for Lara today, and a hat, from Roland Garros.
She's leaving me tomorrow for two weeks in Greece. She's going on her
holiday, while I go to work. The hat? It's one of those big round
things. No, no, it's small, but it goes all the way round. Gee, I'm good
at describing this! But she's happy with it anyway.
Us: When was the last time you were drunk?
Pat: After the Davis Cup in April, in Adelaide. We beat Germany and
decided to celebrate. I was drinking beer and shots. Not whisky!
Probably something sweet and yummy. Some concoction. As long as it
tastes OK, I'll drink it. I was till able to walk home, but I had a
hangover the next day. Water is the only cure. If you can remember to
drink it.
Us: What's the most recent domestic thing you've done?
Pat: Back in Bermuda, in my apartment, I wash up. By hand. I never iron,
all my clothes are wrinkled. But I do a lot of laundry. I'm very happy
to chuck it in the washing machine, the dryer, fold it. Traveling,
sweating, there's a lot. And I sew on my own sponsors' patches. We did
sewing lessons at school. The teacher did a great job with us.
Us: What's the last thing you put in your mouth?
Pat: Some sort of organic, coconuty health cookie. And before that I was
eating Smarties. And a KitKat. I know! I'm a sportsman, but I was bored.
I can eat what I like. But at this stage I'm trying to lose a little
bit. I haven't been working as hard as I like to, so I should really be
watching what I eat. The trouble is, I love to snack. It's my downfall.
Us: When did you last have a snog?
Pat: Here we go! That would have to be last night then, wouldn't it? And
a good chance there'll be another one tonight. Lara's off to Mykonos,
I'm off to Germany, so I'm a bit jealous. She's a good snogger, Lara.
She's very attractive. Black hair, dark eyes. A bit of a dog of a
person, but she kisses great. No, no! She's a great girl, a lot of fun.
Us: When did you last cry?
Pat: The older I get, the more I cry at movies. I did on a plane the
other day. It's a bit embarrassing. I think altitude makes me a little
bit sooky. But a full-out cry? 1992. Got back from Spain, had a rough
time, came home to Mum and Dad, got down, got drunk every night, didn't
play tennis. Came back and cried on my mum's shoulder.
Us: What are you going to do when you hang up?
Pat: Packing, then dinner with Lara. We went out last night with mates
and my coach, but tonight I reckon she'll say just the two of us. We'll
go to our favourite restaurant, an incredible Indian, even better than
any in England. It's Annapurna on rue de Berri.
END
Defeat by Ferreira Masters Series 6-4 7-5 Hamburg May 16 2000 ATP
Question: Do you think if you had more wins this year you could have made
this one as well?
Answer: Yes. Well, I was hitting the ball okay. But I was probably not
concentrating enough. I was not lifting my game, I was just playing at the
same level.
You know, when you play these guys you have to lift your game, so you'll play
the big points better, and I'm just not doing that
After losing to Wayne Ferreira
Q: Do you think you played your game the right way?
A: Yes, I think it is important for me to win some matches and get on a bit
of a roll, but that is just not happening at the moment. I'm struggling with
that a
little bit, but I think it is important not to get too upset about it. I just
have to do the clay court season at the moment and then get ready for the
grass.
Q: How is your shoulder?
A: It is good, I'm very happy with the shoulder this week. I felt great with
it today and I'm going to play doubles later on.
Q: Last week you talked about motivation, that you didn't feel like going out
to practice. Is that getting better?
A: I don't know, a little bit. It is not just the practice, it's the hard
work off the court as well. I'm finding myself doing some more work here with
Marc Orders, but it means doing more time on the court. He should be out in
Düsseldorf next week and hopefully I can do some more work there.
Q: Do you want to?
A: I don't know. I really don't know. It's really tough. I'll try and then
I'll find out if I'm beating a dead horse or not.
Q: Is your serve as good as it used to be?
A: It is not as consistent as it was, but the main thing is that Im serving
quite hard and feels good.
Q: You're not holding back?
A: Not at all today.
Q: Have you gone through a despondent state like this before and come back
out of it?
A: Yes, I have, but this is something different, because I felt that
everything I want is a little boring, so where do I go from here. I haven't
really been in such a situation before. But I think I'll come out of it. I
think I went through something like that maybe in 97 and early 98, and I got
through it very well and I started playing really well again in 99. So I
think it is just a little flat spell I'm going through right now. You know,
you can't take anything away from the way Wayne is playing as well. He is
playing good tennis and you have got to play well to beat Wayne, and I'm just
not sharp enough right now.
Q: You always pride yourself that you don't travel with a coach. In a time
like this do think you could maybe do with a coach?
A: As I said, I don't know if I'm beating a dead horse, so the hard work has
to come from me. And if I don't want to go and do the hard work, a coach is
just going to annoy me. In some way I do have to have much respect for being
around and not that sort of work with, so we'll see what is going to happen
in Düsseldorf.
Q: What do you, would you give him the hard work, or would you just say what
you want to do?
A: I think you have a certain way of doing something and that way he should
be pushing me, he should get the best out of anyone. And if I'm ready to go,
he will be able to do that.
Q: Is part of it rediscovering fun?
A: I'm having fun. Maybe I still want to have too much fun. I'm having enough
fun on the court, but what still what counts more is the winning. You have to
get winning, for me it keeps the draught going.
Q: Do you sometimes look back on the court, and think maybe you shouldn't
have done that when you played, for example when you went to check the clay
and you could have had a break point?
A: No, not at all. It touched the line and whether I do it or the umpire does
it, it's a different thing. I think anyone would have done it. There are
certain guys you wouldn't trust and you would get the umpire down to have a
look at it, but if I had asked Wayne to check it he would have done the same
thing.
Q: Do these kind of losses cut your enthusiasm?
A: It is important to have these kind of losses as well, because they
generally fire me up. But I'm not too fired up at the moment. There are a
couple of shot things that I have to get right.
Q: Is doubles part of that?
A: Yes, I need some more matches and hopefully doubles will be able to give
that for me this week. And a bit of confidence as well.
Q: You sometimes have to read pieces in the newspaper that pension you off.
Does it motivate you or not?
A: No, it doesn't either way. I know I'll get it again this week in
Australia. You hear funny reports how my shoulder is gone. But that sort of
press doesn't really bother me.
Q: Was there ever a time when you thought about calling it a day?
A: No, not really seriously, and it is not going to happen this year. I want
to try and beat the dead horse this year and see what happens. This is a clay
court season and I haven't really done enough work to come here realistically
and play these sort of guys. I don't care if I've been to number one, but you
need to play some good tennis to get out here. I just want to get through the season
with out deflating my confidence too much and then get on the grass, and then
to the hard court season.
Q: But you will get better?
A: Well, it's got to get better. It is not going to get any worse, I hope. We
have a lot of matches coming up now, with Düsseldorf and the French Open, and
probably three grass court tournaments as well, and then the Davis Cup and
then all the hard court tournaments. They are the tournaments I would like to
do really well in.
Q: Do you find yourself looking forward to the hard court season as you got
your best results there?
A: Yes, but I still think that I got to have a couple of good weeks here, and
I hope I will.
Q: Many of the Australian players have an image like pop stars. What is the
reason for this?
A: Well, I think that is more Mark. I don't know, does Lleyton has it? He
does? Well, I think I'm going to get a haircut then. There are free haircuts
here this week. END
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