Patrick Rafter defeated
by Pete Sampras Wimbledon final 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 9 July 2000
An interview with: PATRICK RAFTER
MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, first question to Pat.
Q. Second set tiebreak, will that haunt you for a little while?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. It was a little disappointing not to close that one
out. I did get a little bit tight. There's no "but" (laughter). It was
an
opportunity for me to go up two sets to love. From there it's a very tough
position, as Pete knows, to come back from that. Yeah, but that's what
happens when you get tight.
Q. He said that at 4 -1, he really felt the match -- in the second set
tiebreaker, really felt the match sliding away from him. Then two minutes
later, everything had changed.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah.
Q. Is that how you felt, too?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. But, you know, you still have to get up there and
serve. If I felt very confident in being up at two sets to love, I guess I
wouldn't have been nervous. You know, I knew I still had to do some work.
Probably made me a little bit tight. I never really was serving very well. I
was still struggling with my rhythm, and getting up to serve at 4-1, when
you're not doing something very well, you're a little bit tight. The errors
will start showing up. That's what happened.
Q. How dark was it out there at the end, could you see his serve?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, no, I wasn't getting his serve back anyway. I didn't
really care if it was midnight really.
Q. Was it inordinately dark or was that not a factor?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not when you're down 5-2 in the third, double break, mate.
It's sort of hard work being out there. Mentally, I sort of had done my bolt.
It was really hard to hang in there.
Q. Before the match, did it feel different to preparing for any other match
you've played because of being Wimbledon and the final here?
PATRICK RAFTER: Everything was pretty much the same. I've been in the finals
of a Grand Slam before. Obviously, this is Wimbledon. It would have been a
great one to win. It was the same as every other day I'd come out. I walked
on the court, you know, a little bit nervous and everything. It was still
another day. It was a good feeling to get out there and win the first set.
Q. You lost those two serving points at 4-3 in the tiebreaker. You did have a
short forehand passing shot there. Is that the one that really did you in, do
you think?
PATRICK RAFTER: After I missed that, I knew I was screwed. "Gee,
4-All." Then
I just thought, "Oh, God, this is really going downhill." I was really
going
to find it hard to deal with the nerves, I think more than anything. Yeah,
that was sort of a mental blow more than anything.
Q. When you're defending breakpoint after breakpoint, fighting off a couple
of set points on the tiebreak, are you thinking, "This is my day, I'm
destined to win this, I'm just playing too big on the big points?" Or is
your
attitude, "Eventually he's going to get me with ..."
PATRICK RAFTER: More that. I think if I keep giving him opportunities, it's
just a matter of time. I couldn't put him under pressure, couldn't win the
first point on his serve to put him under pressure. He was either doing a big
serve, big second serve. Not making him play enough. He had me under a lot of
pressure on his serve. When you can serve comfortably, you can swing away on
his serve. I never felt like I had the great rhythm or the pop I needed to
put him under pressure on my serve. You know, he just started to find his
way. It was just a matter of time before he was going to break me down.
Q. You joked about defending your countrymen's record. Can you talk about the
significance of Pete's accomplishment with the 13 Grand Slams?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I mean, it's a great effort, no doubt about it. You
know, for Pete to be the greatest of all time - which he probably is - but to
seal it, he'd have to win the French, I think. I think he knows that, as well.
Q. How frustrating were the breaks in the weather?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's the same for both of us.
Q. Should there be a roof on Centre Court, do you think?
PATRICK RAFTER: I've got no idea, mate. Listen, this is Wimbledon. I'm just
happy to be out there. Whether it rains or shines or whatever it does here in
England, just good to be out there.
Q. It's probably hard to think of now, but what do you think this tournament
will mean to you as far as your comeback goes, getting yourself back on track?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, now I'm going to go in every tournament knowing I've
got a chance of winning again, whereas before I've really gone into each
tournament, Am I going to win my first match, get to the second round? When I
come up against guys ranked 20 or 30 in the world, I feel like I should be
beating them. It's a good feeling to have again because there was a time when
I was coming back not knowing exactly how it would go against each guy, and
feeling, you know, like I never really had a chance of winning a tournament.
It feels good to be a bit more confident.
Q. How are your parents doing after the long flight?
PATRICK RAFTER: You know, I saw them this morning. Mum was very happy and
chirpy. I'll get a few alcohols into them tonight and see how they go
(laughter).
Q. Are you going to dinner?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. There's a group of guys coming back. We're going to enjoy
the moment.
Q. Was there any one person who has helped you more than any others in this
comeback?
PATRICK RAFTER: I know this sounds a bit weird, but not really. You know,
I've been talking to my doctor a lot. She's just sort of guided me through
it. She's been good to tell me what to do. At the end of the day, you've got
to do it yourself. I'm a real stubborn bastard. You know, when I don't feel
like doing it, I'm not going to do it. If I feel like I'm ready to do it, I'm
going to do it. It just had to come from me. You know, having guys like
Rochey around has made it a lot of fun. I really enjoy working with Rochey.
If anybody, I'm sure Rochey has been the main man behind me.
Q. Standing there during the awards presentation, could you tell any of Pete
Sampras' emotions vicariously?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not really.
Q. Of all the great qualities that Pete has, if you had to put one or two at
the very top of the list that makes Sampras such a great champion of our era,
what would you say?
PATRICK RAFTER: That's one hell of a serve, awesome, can't read it, can't
pick it. When you serve as well as that, you know, you put yourself -- take a
lot of pressure off the return. But he has to come up with the returns. He
does have a complete game, but having an awesome serve like that just takes a
lot of pressure off each game.
Q. Is it tough to think about Davis Cup so soon?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I've been thinking about it for a while. And I really
enjoy Davis Cup, and I enjoy celebrating - well, hopefully we win. I just
enjoy playing a team sport. That's what I love so much about Davis Cup. I'm
ready for it.
Q. Can we get your thoughts on Mark Philippoussis withdrawing?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it's disappointing. I guess he doesn't feel like
playing Davis Cup. He just put -- I just wish he'd come out and say
something, how he's feeling, just clear the air. I'd respect him a lot more
for it than jerking us around, telling us he's going to play, then not
showing up to play.
Q. What effect does that have on the team members?
PATRICK RAFTER: We always sort of -- it's 50/50. Even though he says he's
playing, you always think it's 50/50. We try to give him the 50/50 benefit of
the doubt. In his mind, it's probably ten percent.
Q. Are you feeling that if you can't commit, buzz off?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think it comes to that point right now. Just say something.
If you don't enjoy playing, that's fine, I don't have a problem with that. He
has a problem either with the players, with playing for Australia, or Davis
Cup. I've got no idea. Just tell us what it is, then we can leave him alone.
We don't have a problem with that, but just don't say you're going to play
and pull out.
Q. Will you be speaking to him about it?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. If he wants to make contact, he can. I've had enough of
it.
Q. I know unfortunately you lost, but what is it like playing in a Wimbledon
final?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, it was great. It was a great atmosphere. The crowd were
fun. You know, I think the crowd appreciated when it rains, us sticking
around, we'd come out. I really appreciate them sticking around, too. I am
glad that it wasn't a bad match. You know, sometimes they can be ugly. I
think they're going away saying, "It was all right." It was a good
experience. I'd love to be back there, win or lose, again because it was a
very nice feeling being out there.
Q. Had you ever seen Pete as emotional as he was after the match was finally
over?
PATRICK RAFTER: I've seen him pretty mad before (laughter). He was very
emotional against Jim Courier at the Australian Open that year, too, after
Tim left. Obviously, it was a different emotion. You know, obviously Pete is
a very emotional guy. You know, and good on him. It's a good effort.
Q. How long do you think he can continue? He has this incredible record here
- to carry on as the King of Wimbledon?
PATRICK RAFTER: As long as his body holds up. He's very, very tough out
there. I mean, even before the tournament starts, it's like you look through
the draw. Even if you see someone tough in there, "Hmm," you always
have to
pick Pete in front of everyone else, don't you?
Q. It was a pretty dramatic happening with the rain delays, the record,
darkness. Have you been involved in other matches that have this level of
drama, would you say?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, nothing to the significance, I don't think, of being a
Wimbledon final, no. That was a big moment for both of us.
Q. What did you think when you saw all those bulbs flashing in the darkness?
PATRICK RAFTER: That was pretty cool actually.
Q. Pardon?
PATRICK RAFTER: Pretty cool.
Q. Do you have to sort of go easy on the celebrations tonight before you head
back?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, you know, it's not going to go down quite as well as if
you win. I guess it will just take care of itself.
Q. I mean, in terms of getting back fit for the Davis Cup.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. But I don't want a big night anyway. You know, a long
flight ahead of me. Again, you know, I want to be ready for Davis Cup.
Q. You're heading back first thing?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I'm trying to get a midday flight.
Q. Pete had this foot thing the whole time. Did you have any kind of approach
to that, thinking that it might be bothering him?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. It was not showing on the court. You know, there was one
instance where it was showing. A few balls hit by, he got to them quite
comfortably. He knew he could put everything into this last match. That's
what he did. I don't think it was really an issue.
Q. Did you and Roy talk about this match at all?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I haven't really seen him too much. Actually, no, no. It
would have been good, just another sort of nice thing if I'd won it. I think
it's only amount of time before Pete wins it anyway.
Q. Can you explain your comment with the French Open Championships, needing
to win that big championship on clay to seal the deal?
PATRICK RAFTER: You know, I think that's Pete's probably last big challenge.
It's one very big challenge for him. We all know he can play well on clay.
The weather has got to be fine, have great weather in Paris. You never know
what you're going to get there. He's a potential winner, I think he is. He's
got to get himself very, very fit in order to win it, though. I think that's
his setback. If he got himself very fit, he'd feel very comfortable out on
the clay courts. But, you know, like all great champions, I think you've got
to win on all surfaces in majors. But, you know, Pete in my eyes still goes
downs as the greatest player ever. It would just be something that would
really concrete it.
Q. What do you think Roy is thinking?
PATRICK RAFTER: He's an easygoing bloke. I don't think he's really going to
give two shits. Do I get fined for that (laughter)?
Q. How did you spend the rain break?
PATRICK RAFTER: I was laying down. They showed a replay of my Agassi match
(smiling). Then I slept for 20 minutes, fell asleep. Had to wake me up. Just
sort of chilled out, just stayed in the locker room.
Q. What is the main feeling you'll take away tonight and tomorrow?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, it was a great two weeks. It was a lot of fun. People are
going to say to me, "Pat, you've done great, well done."
Q. Will you agree with them?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, but it's sort of hard to put in perspective right now.
I just lost the match. Hard to be really positive about it. It will be
something that will sink in later on.
Q. Once you had been presented the trophy, how aware were you of what to do
with it, whether to put it on the table or take it? You put it back, then
took it.
PATRICK RAFTER: I didn't want to take any thunder from Pete. He was going to
walk around with the trophy. Alan Mills said, "You should walk around with
it. They want to see it, as well." It was sort of hard for me to get up
there, pick it up, take it around. It was a good experience.
Q. You won your only other two Grand Slam finals. Was the pain of losing one
today greater or less than you expected?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not really. It was tough, but, you know, I've always said if
I lose in that situation, I'll hold my head up and cop it on the chin and be
very positive about it. That's the way I felt today. I had a great
opportunity. I was very, very disappointed. I held my emotions in pretty
well. I just wanted to sort of put it in context a little bit under the
circumstances. I really was a good experience for me.
End
Patrick Rafter Defeats Andre
Agassi 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 7 July 2000
Q. You're serving for the match to get into the final at Wimbledon against
one of the world's greatest players. One of the ball kids hands you brand-new
balls. Do they feel any different than brand-new balls in the second round
against a guy who is ranked 106?
PATRICK RAFTER: All I know is that I realised I couldn't start the game any
worse than what I had the last two times against Andre. Started off with a
double a first time, a double the second time. I knew I couldn't start off
any worse straightaway. I didn't realise new balls were coming up. It's
always nice to serve with them. I had some good rhythm. I just went out there
really relaxed actually.
Q. Did you decide to crank it up with those balls?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, no, I just had good rhythm. I was happy with the way I
was serving in the last set. The only thing I was thinking of is, "Just stay
relaxed, go for it. If he comes up with it, too good."
Q. How far is this beyond your wildest expectations coming in?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, yes, it's been a long road back, I think. I think
that's the most satisfying part about it. Now I'm back in the final. It has
been probably a big shock. But I don't want to think about it right now. I
want to go ahead with the job and put in my best on Sunday.
Q. What did you feel like last year after that semifinal? What were your
emotions?
PATRICK RAFTER: I was very satisfied. It was my first time I'd done very well
at Wimbledon. I got beaten by someone a lot better on the day. You've just
got to cop it on the chin. That's what I did.
Q. Did it give you any incentive today?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, not really. No, it wasn't driving me. I didn't need
anything to drive me. I went out on the court and I was pretty relaxed, just
trying to find my rhythm. Eventually I found it in the fifth set.
Q. Do you feel like the job is only half done?
PATRICK RAFTER: Got a lot of work to do, yeah. It looks like probably it's
going to be Pete now. You don't want to play Pete at any time, but especially
not at Wimbledon. It's going to be a tough to the last. If I can play like I
did against Andre today, I think I have a chance.
Q. It's a different game against Pete. Would you like to talk about what your
game plan was against Andre and the extent to which it did or didn't work?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, Andre, you have to serve well. I think he put that
pressure on me. I think if you look at my stats for the first few sets, first
three sets anyway, the serving statistics weren't good. He just makes you
serve very well. I knew I had to go out there and serve very big. I missed a
lot of first serves, but the second serve I was very aggressive on. I guess
my second serve percentage, points won, must have been quite high in order
for me to be up two sets to one. Against Pete, it's pretty well a reversal.
You've got to try to get his serve back somehow, and he's going to be
serve-volleying. You've really got to take your chances. There will be no
baseline rallies. I won't be able to chip-charge.
Q. How much did you feel the soft balls from the baseline were working to
your advantage?
PATRICK RAFTER: The soft ball? Slicing?
Q. Yes.
PATRICK RAFTER: That's what I do all the time anyway. The good thing about
today is I mixed it up very well. In the past I probably haven't done that
enough. Came over my backhand quite a few times; a few shots really came off
on some big occasions.
Q. The doctors said to you that you have a certain amount of serves left in
that shoulder. I mean, is that kind of how you look at it?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. I'm really just taking it week by week, just really
grateful being out here. As you said, that's what I have been told. I have
done a lot of work on the shoulder, as well. I'm hoping that I can get a few
more out than what they expect (smiling).
Q. Are you a different player now than before the surgery?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I think I just came back as good as I was playing the
year before. I was starting to play well in '99. '98 was probably the best
year I've ever had on the tour. Today was a match that I couldn't have played
any better under the circumstances, on a big court against one of the best
players ever. I think it was just probably very satisfying to have actually
done it on those grounds.
Q. Can you take us through what you do each day? You said you do a lot of
work, have to do it every day on your shoulder. Can you take us through what
it is before the match, after the match?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, before I come to the tennis centre, I do a stretching
circuit - well, a couple stretches, whatever. Then I do some band work. I tie
a band to a tennis racquet and I do some work on particular shots, serving
and things, tie it to a wall and do some serves.
At the end of the match today I'll go and do some more band work, just with
the rubber stuff. Day off I might do a few light weights on the back of the
shoulder. That's pretty well it. When I have time after this -- well, I
don't. When I do get time off, I do a couple-hour gym session every second
day on the shoulder.
Q. When this tournament started, did you think you were capable of this kind
of match so soon after the surgery?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's been a while. I think it's had its ups-and-downs.
I was hoping it would be right by Wimbledon. But it's always hard to say how
well you're going to play here. I really hadn't had a lot of runs on the
board coming into Wimbledon. Obviously the week before was very successful
for me. Still hadn't proved myself on a big match situation yet. I guess
today it shows that I'm probably coming back.
Q. Your best match since when, in your opinion?
PATRICK RAFTER: Probably the Davis Cup match against Todd.
Q. Pioline?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I was playing well against Cedric. Probably Davis Cup
match against Todd in Boston. I was playing well in Cincinnati, too, actually.
Q. Your girlfriend in the crowd, is she a great inspiration for you here?
PATRICK RAFTER: You've been told to ask that question, haven't you? Well, I
mean, it's just good. I've got a really good support group around me. She has
been traveling with me all year so far and will continue for the rest of the
year. We're good friends as well as being boyfriend and girlfriend. I think
having her and my brother Peter with me all the time has been great.
Q. How many Rafters might there be in the friend's box by Sunday?
PATRICK RAFTER: My mom and dad are flying in.
Q. How long a trip is that?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it will take them a while. They'll be leaving in the
morning, Australia time, and they'll get in seven o'clock in the morning
Sunday. You know, I don't know what our plans are, if we're leaving Sunday
night straightaway or stay for the dinner or what's going on because we have
Davis Cup and it takes two days to get home. I've got no idea when our
flights are out. Maybe my mom and dad might need a couple days to hang out.
Q. For the first four sets of this match, Andre Agassi was hitting some great
service returns. You were struggling even just to hold your serve against him.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yes.
Q. Something happened in the fifth set. You started getting first serves in,
and you never once had to play from behind on your serve. What was it that
clicked in?
PATRICK RAFTER: The end of the fourth, I just started finding the rhythm on
my serve. When I'm serving well and playing well, that's the way I serve. I
can recall probably serving that well in '98 before the US Open. I was going
in serving great. That's the first -- it's been a while since I served like
that. I was pretty tired, you know. I was starting to suffer a little bit. I
could feel the cramps starting to come on. I wasn't going to overdo it, try
and muscle everything. I just relaxed. The rhythm came and the serve is
there. Hopefully I can serve like that on Sunday.
Q. Coming up, you were one of the players who noticeably was not intimidated
by Pete. I wondered if you could talk about that and if you enjoy going out
and playing him.
PATRICK RAFTER: Pete's always a very tough match to play against. It's not
that I wasn't intimidated. He has a presence about him that's tough. I
remember going out in that match in '93 and playing him, being very scared,
but things just went my way, ended up winning it. Since then, we've had some
battles, and he's won most of them. But I have had my couple of wins over
him. This is a Grand Slam final. He's been here many times before. It's my
first one here at Wimbledon. I've just got to try to go out there with the
same attitude I went out on the court today - be relaxed - and hopefully I
can serve like I did in the fifth set today. That's what I'm going to need to
do.
Q. How do you celebrate a win like this?
PATRICK RAFTER: You don't. You don't celebrate until after.
Q. And thinking about Sunday?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm just going to try to relax, you know, tonight have a
light dinner and go to bed. You know, there's no celebrations until probably
Davis Cup is over.
Q. You and Pete have had your moments away from tennis, a few things said
over the years. How do you two guys get on these days?
PATRICK RAFTER: We get along fine. I called him up and resolved all our
differences. I respect Pete for a lot of things. I think in a lot of ways
he's lightened up over this year. He's very approachable, and he's a good
fellow. I don't have any problems with Pete.
Q. Is there an extra edge still in a match between you or not, given what's
gone on prior?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I think there's too much at stake to be worried about
each other, thinking about your differences with each other.
It's all put behind us now. This is Wimbledon finals. He's going for his
record. I'm just trying to find one here.
Q. By "a band," are you tied to a wall or something? What are you doing?
PATRICK RAFTER: I tie it to a doorknob.
Q. And you just swing?
PATRICK RAFTER: Tie it to the end of a racquet.
Q. Rather than bondage, it's bandage?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's not that sort of rubber (laughter).
Q. Touche'.
END
Patrick Rafter Defeats
Alexander Popp 6-3 6-2 7-6 5 July 2000 Wimbledon
MODERATOR: First question to Pat, please.
Q. When did you last make such few mistakes?
PATRICK RAFTER: It was tight today. I knew I didn't want to give away too
many shots. I tightened everything up and just made him play a lot of balls.
Probably a little defensive at times, but at the end it sort of worked. I
wanted to make him play a lot of balls. He was a little bit tight today.
Q. Semifinals, Andre Agassi, Wimbledon. Does this sound familiar?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yes. A little fresher than last year. Had a lot of tennis end
of the week here last week, a lot of doubles, as well. Andre is obviously
playing very well. Hopefully the result can be a little bit different for me.
Q. Were you surprised by the result with Mark and Andre? Did you think it was
going to be tougher for Andre?
PATRICK RAFTER: You know, I think the first set was very big for Mark today.
You know, psychologically, if you get up, you get a bit more adrenaline, you
probably feel a little bit fresher. Mark has just done really well to put in
two big back-to-back five-set matches. I was very surprised he came through
even against Tim, the way he must have been feeling. You know, today, if he
got that first set, I think anything could have happened. When Andre gets
ahead, he's a tough man to stop.
Q. There were times today when Mark was serving 130, 140 plus, and Andre was
giving them back as good as he got.
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. I'll go out there and play my game. That's all
you can do. You can only go out there and play your style. If it's not good
enough, then obviously you're dealing with a lot better player. There's no
use changing something, because if it's not your natural game, you're not
going to win anyway. You give him your best. If he beats you, you take your
hat off to him.
Q. You played undercover on Court 2 and 3. Today you were on the No. 1. How
did you deal with the first week, the cover, now you're on semifinal?
PATRICK RAFTER: Is your question saying I've been on the outside a lot?
Q. Yes, that you are a little undercover.
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, I see.
Q. How did you deal with that?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, well, it's a lot easier dealing with it when you're not
in the limelight than when you are. I slipped through the draw pretty
quietly. I think that's always a very nice way of going through a draw,
people not expecting very much of you. You just take each match at a time.
That's all I've been focusing on. It's just nice to be back in the semis. Now
we're down to four players, or three and a half - I don't know what is going
on there - four and a half, whatever. It's a good opportunity now for all of
us.
Q. What is the main thing that occupies your thoughts when you prepare to
play Agassi?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, you have to be on top of your game. You hope Andre has
one of his bad days. I've played Andre a few times when he's had some really
bad days. I just hope he has one (smiling). It's very hard to get him under a
bad day, though. He's playing good tennis to beat Mark. I'm not expecting a
bad day out of Andre. Conditions today were a bit heavier than what they have
been. I hope it's a little bit quicker. The No. 1 thing is you've got to
serve well, and you've got to do it well all day. If you can do that, you've
got a chance.
Q. Does it worry you that you haven't been on the Centre Court? It does tend
to play a bit differently.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it has in the past, I know that. I'm sure it's playing
differently here, as well. Nearly all the courts have played differently,
though. They've all got different atmosphere. The courts probably all played
a little bit differently - 2, 3 and 1 - that I've been on. It would have been
nice to be out there. But, you know, I'm just happy to be in the semis, I
guess.
Q. How far are you from your best form?
PATRICK RAFTER: Today was a match that wasn't exactly a very pretty match. I
think Alexander just struggled with everything there today. I could feel him
just being a little bit tight, a little bit nervous, being on a show court,
in his biggest match ever. All I knew, what I thought to do today was just
get the ball back and he's going to make the errors. That's what I had in my
mind. I didn't necessarily be very aggressive out there. The tennis probably
wasn't that pretty, but it was good enough to win. Against Andre, I'm going
to have to step that notch up again. There's no weaknesses in Andre at all.
Q. You seldom hear anybody talk about Agassi's serving, possibly because he
doesn't register those big numbers. He was in absolute command of the match
today against a guy who hits well off both sides. What is it that makes his
serve so surprisingly effective?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I remember last year he served great. I think I had two
set points, two breakpoints, 15-40 on his serve. I never really got into his
service game at all. He mixes it up very well. He can be tough to pick at
times. I remember here last year he was very hard to pick. He had a lot on
his serve. He was serving very hard, in the corners. I'm presuming that's
what he did again today. Someone like Andre, you can't just get the ball back
over the net on your return; you have to do something with it. He opens up
the court on his serve, and he just rips the next one. Grass is not an easy
surface to move on once you're out of balance. He opens up the court; he's in
control. That's another part of his service game that works very well.
Q. What was kind of the lowest point of your shoulder problems, and did you
ever think you'd be back in this position so relatively quickly?
PATRICK RAFTER: I was hoping I'd probably get back quicker than what I did.
There have been many low points. It's hard to pinpoint one. It's sort of gone
in waves, it really has, up-and-down, my shoulder. There's been plenty of low
points. Before the French Open was probably the last discouraging moment with
the shoulder that I had. But I thought it may have come back sooner. I was
hoping it was going to come back sooner. Now it's just more a relief, just
satisfying that the work's starting to pay off that I've done with the
shoulder. Now it's back to a hundred percent.
Q. No one likes injury, of course. Do you feel a certain freshness or
eagerness now that you have the first great result in a huge tournament?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. I think as much as anything, it's a little bit
unexpected for myself, a little bit probably unexpected for everyone else in
the locker room, as well. Probably haven't expected me to do as well or come
back maybe because I've showed no real signs of coming back very well after
the shoulder surgery. I guess it's very satisfying.
Q. Are you surprised yourself?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, no, because I've always felt like if I got my shoulder
right, if I do the hard work again, good results pay off. It's always paid
off for me in the past. I thought there was going to be no difference in why
it shouldn't pay off again if I'd done the work. I was starting to do the
work again.
Q. You mentioned at home you struggled because of the attention you get in
Australia. Do you almost prefer to play away?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's a little bit more hectic. I don't know. I get
myself tied up in a knot a little bit when it comes around Davis Cup time. I
become pretty stressed out - a lot of nerves, a lot of stress running around.
You want everything to run smoothly.
Q. In Australia, you mean?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, pretty well everywhere actually. I think the big reason
why I haven't performed very well in Australia, I don't think it's because I
can't deal with it, it's probably because I just don't have the matches. I've
just probably been unprepared. At the Australian Open, I generally go in a
little under done.
Q. You mentioned low points maybe that you faced. This is certainly a high
point. You have seemed very calm when you're in there. Is it fun for you to
be back in doing this again?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it's very satisfying I think more than anything.
Q. But not fun? You're not really letting yourself enjoy it till it's over?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'll enjoy myself after Davis Cup. I know I've got this week
and next week also back in Australia. The next couple of weeks are very
hectic for me. I'm just trying to remain pretty focused and not get ahead of
myself. Sometimes I've found if I get in a tournament, get really excited, I
probably go out a little bit, don't concentrate as well on the next match.
I've learned to sort of keep my emotions under wraps a little bit.
Q. Did you get too excited last year?
PATRICK RAFTER: Last year? No, I was too tired to get excited.
Q. Would you say the fact with this shoulder injury, the fact you've been on
the outside courts, slipped through the draw, these last few months have been
a character-building period for you?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, got to work on my character, mate (laughter). I think
I've learned a bit about it. I've been pretty moody, actually. When the
shoulder gets sore, I've been a little bit uptight, upset. I probably haven't
learned much. I probably should have learned to control myself a little bit
better, but I got a little bit upset, disappointed, down in my press
conferences, lost a lot of matches. But I've always believed that if I've
done the work, the draw opens up, you can slip through very quickly and
quietly. That's exactly what happened here at Wimbledon.
Q. A couple of things worried you in the first week. One was the footing on
the court. The other was trying to flatten out your second serve. How are you
doing with those things at the moment?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I found when I flattened out, my second serve, the guys
have been onto it the last couple matches. I've just stuck with the kick
serve. It seems to be working well. The movement. The court is sort of brown
and hardened up a lot. It's a lot easier to move around the baseline. But if
you get back ten feet behind the baseline where actually I found myself a
couple times today, the grass is still very slippery back there. Everything
has hardened up. It's just coming into place a little bit better.
Q. You really won't be changing your game?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't really have a change of game anyway.
END
Patrick Rafter defeats
Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-4. 6-7, 6-1 3 July 2000 Wimbledon
Q. Pretty easy, compared with Mark.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. But I don't think I could do what Mark has done right
now. I'm not that fit and strong. At this stage, I'm very happy the way
things are going.
Q. What do you know about Alexander Popp?
PATRICK RAFTER: He's big. Seemed to me he served pretty well. Even today - I
think I saw a little bit - he passed well and returned well. He doesn't look
like he's going to serve-volley, though. But if I can serve as well as I am,
I'm sure there will be opportunities on his serve.
Q. You're on a really nice roll right now. You've had a nice draw here at
Wimbledon. For the people you're playing, you're playing a very high level.
How do you know in your own mind, or do you have to know, how well that level
will stack up against the best players in the tournament when you get there,
if you get there?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I guess I haven't run into anyone like Tim has. He's
had a pretty good -- pretty tough draw. Yeah, so, you know, I guess only time
will tell. At this stage, I'm gaining confidence, believing I can win again.
I think that's pretty important when you're going against those guys, big
guys. I don't really know until I get to play them how I'll go. I'll be a lot
more confident than what I have been in the past, that's for sure.
Q. Do you have a hunch, based on what you've been hitting this last week,
whether those same shots will be effective against Andre Agassi?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, if I serve well, it will come off. You know, yeah, I
think so. I guess only time will tell, though. I don't really know. And I've
got to win my next match.
Q. Is returning another aspect of your game you've been pleased with?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, today I felt like I just wanted to get the ball back
over. Thomas is not playing as well as he was a year ago, so I was just
thinking about getting the ball back and getting into play. Like today, I
just wasn't really that aggressive with my returns. And if I feel I have to
be, then I will go for my returns a little bit more. At this stage, I'm
getting the ball back and getting it into play, so I'm doing what I have to
do to win.
Q. Were you a little bit annoyed not to close it out in the third?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it was tough. I had a lot of opportunities. I was
serving very well. He didn't have one opportunity on my serve. Quite often
that sort of thing happens when you come to a tiebreaker. It's a little bit
frustrating. But I kept it together, and I think that was an important part.
I knew I would have another opportunity to break him in the fourth set. You
know, when you put that sort of pressure on someone all the time, they've got
to break sooner or later.
Q. You looked quite pumped up today. A little something extra there?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. The last few matches I've been pretty pumped up, pretty
excited. Just good to be out there feeling good again, playing good tennis.
And I want to do very well.
Q. Didn't look very happy when you had to go in at 5-Love up. Didn't feel it
was completely necessary?
PATRICK RAFTER: It was a strange one (referring to the rain delay). I think
everyone was in the locker room shaking their heads, "What's going
on?" We're
watching Court 1. I guess they thought something more was coming. That's
Wimbledon.
Q. Didn't do you any favors?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. He came out, started serving very well. He actually
served well in the second set, I think, as well. Then his serve went out a
little bit. In the third and fourth, I was on his games. I could return his
serve. He came out on fire and I knew I had to hold that off.
Q. The amazing Pete Sampras said that he got a very weak handshake from Jonas
after the match, and it sort of suggested to him that there's some people in
the locker room who are questioning whether he's really hurt. Never heard
Pete talk like that before. He seemed convinced that Jonas might be one of
those people spreading rumors that Pete was just sandbagging an injury.
PATRICK RAFTER: What did Jonas say here in the press?
Q. I think he basically said that's ridiculous, it's not true. Are you
hearing anything in the locker room?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I played Pete in '98 at the US Open. He had a thigh
injury. It was frustrating because he was out there, he was sort of
complaining. He'd come out and serve some big serves. Someone like Pete, when
he's injured, he's very capable of playing good tennis still because he has
such a great serve. He can hold his serve and have a crack every now and
then. He runs only when he needs to run. He saves himself. I've seen him do
that at the US when I played him. I guess he's doing that again here. There's
been comments passed in the locker room about it. But I think all in all,
Pete's pretty genuine. It is funny in the locker room. There's a few comments
that fly by. At the end of the day, you've got to trust the guy and how he's
feeling.
Q. Do you think it's the general fear factor of Pete that always exists among
top players, trying to rattle him?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. No, that's not the way I'd see it. You don't want to
rattle someone like Pete, it just gives him more ammunition.
Q. So what's the motivation for someone to say something like that or start
that rumor?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's just sometimes you see him run for balls. You think,
"Is
he injured or not?" I guess everyone is thinking, "What's he doing? Is
he
injured? Is he not injured?" I think Pete probably saves himself and runs
only when he needs to, on the big points. Someone who serves as well as Pete
does, you don't need to move too far to get a good first volley.
Q. It's emerged that Jelena Dokic has sacked Rochey as a coach. I want to get
your view on how good a coach he is.
PATRICK RAFTER: You guys are hammering me. I don't really know the
ins-and-outs of it. If you want to speak to him, you speak to Rochey about it.
Q. I guess I want to know how high will you rate him as a coach?
PATRICK RAFTER: I find him not just a great mate, but an excellent coach.
He's very good mentally, as well, in his own little way. He doesn't say much.
He only says something when he needs to say something. Rochey, he's great. I
think he's the best in the world. But I haven't used anyone else really.
Q. It looked like you enjoyed it too much in the third set, and you were
toying a bit with him.
PATRICK RAFTER: Toying?
Q. Toying. Was it true?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. No. I wasn't trying to send anyone up out there. I was
just trying to do my job and win.
Q. When you said Mark is sort of fit and strong, how fit and how strong do
you feel?
PATRICK RAFTER: Mark is naturally very strong. I've found Mark to be -- in
the past, I don't think he did much off-court work. He might do some gym
work, that sort of thing. The amount of work I've seen him do, go out there
and play a big five-setter, he is naturally a very strong boy. Matches like
he had with Schalken, he just always seems to be very strong and gets through
it. I think a lot of it's very natural.
Q. You're also saying you don't feel fit.
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm feeling better, but I need to work a lot harder. I feel I
need to work very harder than I did.
Q. In the darkest days of this shoulder injury, is there one person who
kicked your rear-end and got you back out there?
PATRICK RAFTER: The only one that can do it -- no, it's got to come from
yourself. If you're not ready, no one can push you. I can't listen to anyone
because if I don't want to go out there and do it, I'm not going to do it.
Q. Were there days where you were ready to chuck it in, had to rethink it?
PATRICK RAFTER: It was frustrating times out there. Hard to put in one a
hundred percent. At the end, I got through it. That's by doing the right
correct work for the shoulder. Makes it so you can do it. When you're out
there struggling, you've got to do it yourself. No one can tell you. No one
can tell me, I'm too bloody stubborn.
Q. When you look back, is this a turning point?
PATRICK RAFTER: Wimbledon?
Q. Yes.
PATRICK RAFTER: I think it started last week even in Rosmalen when I started
winning some matches again. And again here, because I think people in the
locker room probably think that now I'm probably coming back to somewhere
where I was before.
Q. Did you notice with the courts today that your second serve was kicking a
little higher?
PATRICK RAFTER: I started slicing, he returned it well. I went back to the
kick serve, which he was struggling with. The courts are very hard.
Q. Are you getting more height?
PATRICK RAFTER: A lot more than I can ever remember at Wimbledon.
Q. When you say in the locker room people think you can beat them, is there a
feel when you're in there? Do they ignore you?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, no. The guys in there are always pretty friendly. I'm
pretty sure in the past, the last few weeks, "Pat, not a bad draw."
That's
fine with me. I've been pretty happy to have that going into the matches.
Within myself, I've been feeling, "How am I going to go today?" I had
no
idea. Today I feel like I can win this. It's a whole different feeling - not
just within myself, but within the other guys, as well.
END
Patrick Rafter Defeats
Rainer Schuttler 6-2, 7-6, 6-3 July 1 2000 Wimbledon
Q. For those of us who couldn't get out there to see much of it, can you give
us an idea of how well you played?
PATRICK RAFTER: I served really well, especially on the big points today. You
know, I pretty well took most of my chances that I had. I just sort of hit --
I was just very determined out there. I think that's the difference I've had
coming into this week compared to the last few Grand Slam tournaments that
I've played in.
Q. Why has that been?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I realise I have a chance here again - at the beginning
of the week, I felt as well. Now I'm starting to play good tennis again. The
shoulder's fine. Makes me excited to be out here.
Q. Are you almost surprised how well it's come back?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. Still hasn't had a big five-setter yet; not that I want
one. Still really hasn't been tested out. I'm confident it will be fine.
Q. Any time in matches when you feel any kind of doubts creeping in?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not at all. That's another good thing about it; there's no
weakness throughout the match at all. I go down after the match, I do more
work on the shoulder. So it's continually getting good endurance work on it.
Q. You've had three rounds, nine sets. That's pretty good. Confidence has to
be very high after that?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. Just, as I said, I'm very determined. When I'm out on
the court, I'm very focused again. It's been a while since I felt like that.
It's good.
Q. The tabloids here cover the tournament so much differently than other
Grand Slams. Have you taken any hits from them over the years?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm too lazy actually to get the paper, so I don't even know.
I don't know. I guess that's the downside of someone like Kournikova. I guess
she's always going to get picked on in those sort of things. But, no, I've
been lucky. I think I've been lucky.
Q. Do you read them at all? Do you follow what they say?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, no. If there's a good story, someone might bring it in,
have a read and a chuckle. Hasn't been about me yet.
Q. You seemed irritated with the Cyclops machine?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, it was the let machine (winking).
Q. Can you talk a little about the two opponents, Gustafsson, Johansson,
looking ahead?
PATRICK RAFTER: Gustafsson, I've had some good results against Magnus. Again,
you have to work very hard. I'd be sort of confident playing Magnus. Thomas,
I've never played before. But again, these guys serve pretty well and they
stay back and rip their shots. It's going to be a serve-volley against a
baseliner; similar match to what I played today, I think.
Q. In that match today, were you able to hold back? You were in control most
of the time, all the time actually, weren't you?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I think there was a situation at 4-All or something
like that in the second set where he had breakpoint. I stayed back and we got
into a rally. You know, if you lose those points, you think I guess things
aren't going your way. When you win them, you know that something's
happening. It's positive, it's going your way.
Q. A few breakpoints to be saved?
PATRICK RAFTER: There were. Again at Love-40, early -- I can't remember. It
was a Love-40 game, 15-40 game, as well. Maybe one or two other breakpoints
that I saved.
Q. How are you going to spend your day off?
PATRICK RAFTER: I have a light hit, probably do some training, just a light
bit of training, off-court stuff. Then a game of cricket is on, I might have
a look.
Q. The Aussies --?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah.
Q. Are you a bowler, batsman, fielder?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I'm a pretty aggressive everything. I played once, one of
the initial games about '91, first ones that started in Australia. We played
out the back in Camberwell, way out of Melbourne. Only about a half dozen of
us. I haven't played since. I'm a pretty temperamental cricketer.
Q. The fact that you're one of the few genuine serve-and-volleyers in the
game, let alone left in the draw, that is a factor in your confidence? Do you
think there's so few with the style to win Wimbledon, and you're one of them?
PATRICK RAFTER: I've been in this situation now quite a few times. Again, I'm
here. I feel like, again, we come down to 16 guys - I'm there anyway. It's
going to be 16 by the end of today. You know, I think everyone's got a
realistic chance. But I put myself probably a little bit higher than some of
the baseliners here. Obviously, Andre is an exception to that. Yeah, at the
moment I'd feel more comfortable playing a baseliner than someone like Tim or
Pete.
Q. When you got to the semis here last year, were you getting problems with
the shoulder by that stage?
PATRICK RAFTER: I had problems at the French Open. I was having a lot of
treatment on the shoulder.
Q. Here?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. But I refused to go on anti inflammatories until I think
the Davis Cup match.
Q. When did you actually start to feel you could win this? Was that at
Rosmalen or when you got here?
PATRICK RAFTER: I mean, I'm not saying -- I still don't feel I'm going to
win. I just feel I have a chance, an outside chance. I'm not saying I'm going
to win it.
Q. You feel like you could, perhaps?
PATRICK RAFTER: I feel like now I have as good a chance as anyone. Put it
that way. I feel like I have a 1-in-16 chance of winning it. It's going up
every day. I feel like I'm putting in a good performance. Mentally I'm really
there at the moment. That's a good sign.
Q. There's been some mention of your ability to get out of trouble. What's
the mental process when that happens?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's just matches, mate. That's the big thing. When you
haven't played a lot of matches, you don't know how to get out of situations.
Now I felt like I've had more matches. It only comes by playing matches. Hard
to sit down and do the mental work, visualize it or do it in practise. It's
got to be on court in match situations.
Q. What is the story with the net cord machine?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm deaf in one ear. I find it hard to hear the lets anyway.
Rainer was also looking at the umpire strangely. I generally hear most of
them. Every now and then I miss one. I mean, some flat serves, but this serve
was a big kick serve. I reckon it cleared the net by a metre. I had to say a
word to him. Then the net judge came out. I'm sure he said one that wasn't
one either. Myself and Rainer looked up again, just sort of nodded our heads.
I don't know, maybe we're missing something.
Q. Does it get more frustrating for you because you don't pick them up?
PATRICK RAFTER: No. I guess I've got to go with the umpire more. I look at
the other guy to see what he thinks. If he goes yes (nodding), okay a let. If
he goes, "Huh," I go "Huh."
Q. (Inaudible) machine?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's not the machine. It's actually hearing the net. I don't
actually believe that machine a hundred percent.
Q. You said the other day you'd have to flatten your serve out and hope for a
miracle. Have you made adjustments?
PATRICK RAFTER: Today I was serving the second serve over a hundred miles
very consistently. It was definitely flattened out today. A few big points, I
went for it, as well. I felt very good out there serving that way. I think
that's the way I have to serve my second serve.
Q. One last thing on the tabs. Are there things that you get asked that you
think are out-of-bounds, things they should not ask?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think some character over here the other day asked me about
betting, which is just a stupid comment, stupid question to ask. I mean, I
think sometimes people search for tabloid sort of questions. That's a typical
sort of tabloid question, I think.
Q. What about your personal life?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, we don't generally get asked much about personal life
in here. It's mainly business in these sort of press conferences.
I'll talk about it if I feel like talking about it. If I think they're going
too far, then I just won't answer the question.
Q. There's questions to Agassi about Steffi. There's questions to Pete about
his girlfriend.
PATRICK RAFTER: They're different. They're more in the limelight. These girls
are actresses or former great tennis players. I guess if there's something
they want to know a bit more. Myself and my girlfriend, we're pretty low-key.
END
Patrick Rafter Defeats Todd
Woodbridge 6-3, 6 -3, 6-4 29 June 2000 Wimbledon
MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, first question to Pat.
Q. Your serve looked pretty solid today?
PATRICK RAFTER: Have you got the stats?
Q. 65%.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, pretty good. I came in this morning, looked at the
stats from the other day. I was also surprised to see how high I did serve.
Today I felt a lot better with my serve. I don't know, seemed the conditions
were pretty good to return in out there today.
Q. How was it to knock out a countryman as opposed to playing someone else?
PATRICK RAFTER: I found in '97 when we played, I had a strange feeling when I
was playing Todd in the fourth round here. I probably wasn't hungry enough,
tried to play sort of Mr. Nice Guy. Today was a day where I made my mind up
that I wasn't going to -- well, I was going to knuckle down and try to just
play a good, aggressive game, not show any sort of loyalty - not loyalty, but
too much friendship out there, try to do the job, play like another match. I
was out there pretty hungry and pretty determined today.
Q. Is it a bit weird knowing you knocked out a fellow countryman from the
competition?
PATRICK RAFTER: Happens all the time. You know, it's just -- you don't even
look at it like that, no. You have so many other guys playing in the
tournament, you're bound to run into someone from your own country.
Q. Did you find the surface a bit easier to handle today? Courts growing out?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. Still, the conditions were good to return. I remember
playing Todd here in '97. We both struggled to return. It was nowhere near as
comfortable as it was today. He got onto my serve very well and nearly every
game I felt like I was in on his service game, as well. Felt strange out
there. It was a little bit slower, I think.
Q. You might have expected it to be a bit closer than that. Do you think that
was due to your play or maybe a bit of Todd?
PATRICK RAFTER: I did play very well, but at the same time I think Todd got a
little bit upset at the way he was serving. I haven't seen him serve his
second serve quite that badly before. I think it sort of upset him a little
bit.
Q. You've had an injury; Pete is having problems now; Andre has had problems;
Davenport; Williams sisters. Are we thinking now that it might be the season,
there's just too much tennis?
PATRICK RAFTER: I don't really know what the right answer is or if it's just
coincidences for the amount of injuries we have on the tour right now. I
think the US Open last year was a pretty classic example of probably overplay
by a lot of players. I was one of them. I think we had seven or eight
withdraws from the men's. It's a tough schedule, no doubt about it. We're
putting Davis Cup up there, as well. I'm not saying that's a problem. I'm
just saying that the tour has to come to some sort of agreement on the
schedule that gives us some sort of off-time. It's just not going to happen,
I don't think, in the near future.
Q. I suppose the players themselves can't, if not demand; I suppose there's
so much money involved, that that doesn't make sense?
PATRICK RAFTER: There comes a time, when I play now, I'm not playing for
money, I'm playing for goals and things that I've always wanted to achieve.
I'm not out here satisfied with making third round or fourth round. I'm here
to try to win the thing. I think a lot of guys would like that, as well.
Unfortunately, a lot of our lead-up to the Grand Slams is so many
tournaments, that every time a lot of guys come into Grand Slams, we're
either tired or maybe a little bit injured. It would be nice to try and get a
balance somewhere.
Q. Why don't guys lighten their schedule a little bit? You can, if you want.
Is it ranking, seeding, makes your life more difficult? Is that why you don't
do it?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I think that has a bit to do with it, you know. The way
the system is set up right now, it does make you play a lot of tournaments.
You know, sure, we can choose not to play it, but at the same time you still
want to get a half-decent ranking where you're going to be seeded in the
tournaments, as well. You don't want to go in there and have a bad seeding or
not even be seeded, run up against someone very tough and very strong in the
first round. It's sort of a balance you have to try to get. We don't know
what it is just yet.
Q. Talking about seeding, I think you were elevated into a seeded position
this year because of your record here, your grass court record overall. How
much of an asset has that been for you to prepare for this tournament knowing
that you've got a little bit of protection early on in the draw?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, that was a benefit from this tournament. Over the last
four years, my record has shown that I've been in the last 16 at least, so
they seeded me accordingly. I think Wimbledon is still a tournament that
needs to be seeded that way. If they want to do it at the French, I'm all for
that, as well.
Q. What about from your own personal perspective?
PATRICK RAFTER: Sort of guys like Ferrero, first round, who was very, very
tough. A lot of stray guys, Todd Martin, Karol Kucera. So many good players
out there you can run into that can upset your matches, as well.
Q. Todd, semifinal last year, can you talk a bit about --?
PATRICK RAFTER: Did you call me Todd?
Q. Aren't you Todd Martin?
PATRICK RAFTER: I thought you meant Todd Woodbridge.
Q. Semifinal last year, could you talk a bit about where you place Wimbledon
in your career ambition and what there is in your game that you feel you most
want to improve this year to get to the final and maybe win?
PATRICK RAFTER: What was the first part of that question (laughter)?
Q. Where do you rate Wimbledon and what are your ambitions?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I still rate it probably No. 1 as tournaments to win.
Q. How come?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'm still answering his question. I still think it's the one
to win. I've always found it very difficult. My sort of game doesn't suit
this surface to do well. My kick serve is probably a negative on this
surface, the reason I probably haven't done that great. Also the way I move
is also tough for me on this court. So if I need to do well, I need to
probably flatten out my serve a little bit and hope for a miracle, I guess.
Q. Magnus Norman said that you in '97, when he faced you at the US Open, were
the toughest player that he's ever played against. He said you were almost
impossible to beat, at least for him. Do you feel like you're getting up to
that level again, that '97 level?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I've played my best tennis at the US Open. To me that's
been my best chance of winning a Grand Slam. For me, I put that alongside
Wimbledon as the one for me to win because that's my best chance for me to
win there. When I'm playing well on hard courts, and those conditions at New
York, it seems to be the best surface for me to play on. I came off a lot of
very good matches, a lot of tough matches beforehand. I was just seeing the
ball great. Didn't matter who I played against, I felt very, very confident.
Right now, playing at Wimbledon, I've never really felt like that. I felt it
a couple times at the US Open, but never at Wimbledon. It's hard for me to
place it right now.
Q. Where do you feel you are right now?
PATRICK RAFTER: I feel myself very competitive.
Q. But you don't have that special feeling that you can go out there on your
best day and beat anybody?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I still feel I can do that. But at the US Open I felt
sort of very, very tough to beat all the time. Even if I felt like maybe I
was off a little bit, I still felt like I could win. Where I know if I'm off
a little bit here, it's going to be a really tough struggle.
Q. Have you really turned things around after the first part of the year, or
is there still a ways to go?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's starting to turn around. I'm hoping that it
continues this way because if I can take some confidence into the US summer
again, I think it can also be another very good summer for me in America. The
signs are looking a lot more positive than what they were a month or two ago.
Q. The Wimbledon mystique, why does it mean so much? On the flipside, now
that you've been at this tournament for a while, what do you see as the
problems here?
PATRICK RAFTER: "Problems," what do you mean?
Q. I want you to talk about the great things at Wimbledon, the mystique, and
also, because nothing is perfect, the flipside of it as well?
PATRICK RAFTER: You're talking about the negatives as in what? Maybe like the
food or something like that?
Q. I'm not trying to prompt an answer. I want to know what you think. I'm not
digging, I'm just curious.
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, Wimbledon is something -- I don't know. I guess being a
young Australian kid, would get up at two o'clock in the morning to watch. I
remember doing the US Open. But dad used to sort of let us get up for
Wimbledon. We'd get up at two o'clock in the morning for a couple of hours.
Have to be in bed by six o'clock.
Q. Sit in your pajamas?
PATRICK RAFTER: Get a rug out. Sort of be cold at home. A lot of the old
Aussie guys just told us that this was the one. We were always told this was
the tournament. So when you do come here, it's a good feeling to know that
you've made it here. Even to just walk around is a good feeling. There are a
lot of negatives that go along with the tournament.
Q. Like what?
PATRICK RAFTER: You know, every tournament has problems. I think Wimbledon
are definitely making in-roads. Last couple years have been great for me,
with looking after me - for instance the seedings, tickets - that sort of
thing has been a problem for a lot of people, but for me it's been great. I
just find it's a bit of a rat race sometimes, just outside around Wimbledon.
US Open is great. You go back and you get away from the tennis altogether
into the city, whereas Wimbledon, everyone stays at Wimbledon. Seems to be a
lot of people around. You can't seem to get away from the courts at all. It's
that sort of feeling. Sometimes it's hard to get away. That's a problem that
everyone has anyway.
Q. You were talking about your movement on grass, yet in the game, there was
a rally that was almost a clay court rally. You seemed pretty comfortable.
PATRICK RAFTER: A little hacked off actually, because I was playing -- he was
standing back. He found that was the best way to beat me. It was starting to
work. It was really hacking me off. It's just hard to move back there. I made
up my mind that if I'm going to try to win from the baseline, I've got to be
very aggressive. Once you feel like you get taken out of court, it's very
hard to get back into the point, where I find if I can slip over at any stage
while I'm back there. If you're not controlling the point, you're in a lot of
trouble. I'm not someone who hits the ball very hard from the baseline, but I
made up my mind at a couple of stages just to hit it and see what happens.
Q. You talked up Lleyton here pretty strongly. He went out and lost. You're
kind of a mentor to him. What would you say to him now? Is this much of a
setback?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, if he's going to have a result like he did, it's good
to have it while he's young. Hopefully he can learn from it; he needs to
learn from it. To me, it looked like a whole weight of expectations on me
when I watched it on TV. He was dealing with being the second favourite. In a
way to me he looked very cool and calm, but I think deep down he was quite
nervous and tense about the whole situation. He had a very tough first round
match. It's something that he'll learn from. I think if he can get past that,
he's just got to learn to deal with expectations and I think he just didn't
deal with it great here. It's a total learning thing. He's 19 years old. It's
a great time to learn about it right now. He's going to be here for a long
time. He is going to be a contender in a few years.
Q. Going back to you say getting up at two o'clock in the morning to watch
Wimbledon, do you think of all the little Rafters doing that to watch you?
PATRICK RAFTER: I haven't got any little Rafters running around.
Q. Rafter types. Do you think of the kids getting up and watching you now?
PATRICK RAFTER: I guess they are. I don't often give that a thought at all,
no. The positive thing is that it's there. I saw it happen. I used to get up
and watch it. It was a great feeling. Right now I guess I take that for
granted and I don't really think back to what it was like when I was ten
years old getting up and watching it. It's something you should probably
reflect on every now and then.
Q. In a couple of months, the Olympics are going to be in Australia. The
world is going to be taking a long look at Australia and its athletes. Are
there any typical qualities of an Australian athlete as opposed to anybody
else?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I'd like to think the Australians are very laid-back
people, very approachable people. If any of the athletes aren't that way,
they're generally regarded a dickheads. That's just the way I -- the way to
sum it up.
Q. Who would be the most famous Australian athlete?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think you have to go into Ian Thorpe or Michael Klim right
now.
Q. How about historical to you?
PATRICK RAFTER: The first name that popped into my mind was Dawn Fraser. I
may have messed that up. I don't know.
Q. Are you playing?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'd like to, mate. We will have the decision at the end of
Wimbledon. I really would like to be there.
Q. How significant is what appears to be the growing number of supporters on
court, the Patrick Rafter fan club? How significant is that support when
you're out there playing?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's always good to hear your name being called out. Always
frustrating when someone is yelling in your ear, like today, "Come on, Todd."
Sometimes when they yell, "Come on, Pat," he must be feeling the same way. If
you can get a few more "Come on Pats" than "Come on Todd," it's always a bit
better.
Q. You said before, your game is coming around. How far below your peak would
you rate yourself?
PATRICK RAFTER: Today was a different match altogether. I think we returned
serve very, very well, both of us. I felt like I served better. There are
still parts of my game that I need to probably improve a little bit more.
Today was very encouraging. I felt I was going another step forward.
Q. How about what's ahead for you? How about the matches come?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think I play Schuttler right now. He played very well
against Lleyton in the Davis Cup in Adelaide, actually. He will stay back.
He'll serve and stay back. I've got to learn to try and dominate from the
baseline and try to get my way to the net and cover the net as best I can.
I'll be doing my serve and volleying, so there will be no secrets out there.
Q. Was there a worrisome time when you came back after this surgery where you
felt, "I hope this thing doesn't fall off"?
PATRICK RAFTER: There's always a worry. I remember them saying, "There's only
so many serves you have left in your arm. You have to figure out whether you
want to use them in your practise or use them in your match." I took that
attitude around with me for quite some time. I found when I got into matches,
I hadn't had the preparation. I'm someone who needs to do a lot of serving in
practise to take on the court to have that confidence on the court. I made
the effort, the conscious decision, "I'm going to have to do it in practise
and matches. If it doesn't last that long, it doesn't last very long. That's
it." For me to perform very well, I need to do the very hard work on the
court and in the practise. That's what I do right now. That's a decision I
made a couple months ago.
Q. How much money would you put on Patrick Rafter winning Wimbledon?
PATRICK RAFTER: That's a stupid question because we don't gamble.