March 16, 2001 TENNIS MASTERS SERIES Indian Wells, California

P. SAMPRAS/P. Rafter

4-6, 7-6, 6-4

An interview with:

PATRICK RAFTER

MODERATOR: Questions for Patrick.

Q. A good match, great effort. How do you assess it or compare it to other matches of this tournament?

PATRICK RAFTER: It's a very different match. You don't get a chance to play any tennis out there. Very similar to like the Rusedski match. Obviously, it's a different class with the way Pete plays. When he's playing well, he's very, very tough.

But under the circumstances, I'm very happy with the way I played. It's always disappointing when you lose. You know, it wasn't a bad match. I'm pretty happy with it.

Q. He said at some stages it reminded him of the Wimbledon final. Did you think the level was comparable?

PATRICK RAFTER: At Wimbledon, no one made a return. It was really ugly tennis. It was very hard to play when it's like that.

Today there were stages where we both raised our level and played pretty well. Some good tennis out there. But Wimbledon I just thought was a really ugly match.

Q. You were actually both hitting a lot of winners, few unforced errors. You had one tough game beginning of the third set. What happened there?

PATRICK RAFTER: Unforced errors. Just a mental lapse. You can't afford to have that against these players, especially who serves like Pete. You don't get too many chances. It was a real bad tactical error on my behalf there. I let myself down; let him take control of the match from there.

Q. You think it was more you than him at that stage?

PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I made four unforced errors. I mean, he continued to -- he was just starting to put pressure on me. The last few games he was starting to put me under pressure. Obviously, he's got to get the ball over the net, as well. At the same time, there were some really bad misses. Sort of gave the game away. I should make him play, make him hit the winners, and I didn't do that.

Q. He won the last point of that tiebreak, that started a run of ten straight points. How frustrating was that getting?

PATRICK RAFTER: What game? All those points?

Q. Yes.

PATRICK RAFTER: I think I came up with an ace. I was aware of that. You don't like to let a guy get off with that many points in a row. Again, I just opened the floodgates up and he took advantage of it. He's good enough to do that.

Q. You managed to take care of your serve pretty well. I don't think you served many double-faults.

PATRICK RAFTER: No doubles.

Q. Your second serve seemed to be really good for the most part.

PATRICK RAFTER: So was his. He didn't serve any doubles. You do get some doubles from Pete, but not today. He served very well, very hard. The court really takes a lot of bite out there. It was a match of one or two points here or there. That's why Pete is where he is.

Q. What's the difference? You're both serve and volleyers. What is the difference between your games?

PATRICK RAFTER: Pete has a lot bigger serve than I have. What else? He swings on his return. I try to just make as many rushes as I can. He's probably a bit more aggressive on his returns than what I am. Other than that, we play pretty similar styles of tennis.

It's a fine line between, you know, the result at the end of the day. If you look back on our careers, there's a big gap, a vast gap. That's how good he is.

Q. Your career doesn't have to be over yet.

PATRICK RAFTER: Doesn't have to be.

Q. You were saying during the Corretja match that was as well as you could play. The first set and a half today, was it that same level?

PATRICK RAFTER: It was very high, yeah. I thought so. There was some good tennis out there. I was really happy to be part of it, out there playing it.

It's never fun being part of a match when the score is 7-6. For instance, the first two sets at Wimbledon were to me as ugly of tennis as you can get. It's not fun to watch; it's not fun to play.

At least these sets, some returns made, good volleys, good points, some close games. Under the circumstances, I played very well.

Q. Do you think much had to do with the difference of surface?

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, sure. Has a lot to do with it.

Q. Is it possible to strategize against Pete?

PATRICK RAFTER: Well, you know you're -- you know you can hold your serve most times. You've just got to try to get his serve back. I think it's the same with everyone. I'll go in with someone like Rusedski with the same plan, as well. You're going to hold your serves most times and you've got to try and break down his serve somehow.

Pete is a great player.

Q. Could you talk about the second set tiebreak. Was there a key in that, his forehand service return at 1-1? Something that turned that around?

PATRICK RAFTER: That was a good one. I had a couple of opportunities. I think the first point, made a good return, didn't make a good pass. Pretty well I did that on his next service point. Just got myself in position to make a good shot, and didn't come up with it. Pete came up with that one big shot. By the end, it was just a loose shot on my behalf.

Again, there were no free points really out there. He came up with the big shot. That's what he does day in, day out.

Q. Are you surprised by the fact that he managed to raise his level of the game during the big tournaments without playing so many matches since the beginning of the year?

PATRICK RAFTER: Some players are like that. Some players don't need to play that many matches, that many tournaments, to play well. Pete, I think, is one of those guys. When he is playing well, he's very difficult. These conditions are great for him. He's great in these conditions.

I put him down with someone like Mark Philippoussis who doesn't necessarily put in a lot of matches, a lot of tournaments, a lot of hard work to be able to play great tennis. They're naturally very gifted, both of them.

Q. Is it harder for you to go up against a fellow serve and volleyer when most of the people you go up against are baseliners?

PATRICK RAFTER: Better tennis when you play the baseliners. You can get to see some baseline tennis, guys coming to the net, some passing. I've got one of those serves, you hit a ball, you can make the returns. If you don't hit a good return, I'm going to do a lot with the volley.

I don't have a serve that blows a lot of people away. I get it in and make you pass me. I prefer to play a guy like that because it's just better for my solid game, it's better to watch.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

March 15, 2001 - TENNIS MASTERS SERIES
Indian Wells, California
P. RAFTER/A. Corretja  4-6, 6-3, 6-4

An interview with:  PATRICK RAFTER

MODERATOR: Questions for Pat.

Q. I only saw the third set. I assume you must be pretty pleased.
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, mate, it was good tennis. I don't think I can play much
better than that. I served very well in the end. The last two and a half
sets, served a very high percentage. I served very well. I started returning
well, mixing my game up.

I'm very happy with today.

Q. There was hardly an error in that last set, was there?
PATRICK RAFTER: It was great tennis. I said to him, "I can't play any
better." I thought he played well. You know, one of those matches you come
off and say, "It's a good match, just too bad."

Q. Have you been getting steadily better and better in --?
PATRICK RAFTER: I raised my game today. I didn't think there for a time that
my game was good enough to beat his. He raised his game in the third set. He
went to sleep a little in the second. That was probably his error. He let me
back into the match in the second.

The third set, I raised my game, he raised his game. For a while there, I
thought he was going to be too good. It was just one or two points here or
there and the match just swung.

Q. You didn't play him in Davis Cup, but did you think about Davis Cup at all?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, yeah. I mean, it's very different, though, Davis Cup. I'm
sure it was there in the back of the mind. It was nothing personal out there.
We were just having a go at each other, getting stuck into each other, just
playing tennis like whoever it is, nothing personal
out there. I think we both -- well, I know I enjoyed the match anyway.

Q. The comments you made earlier in Australia, that this could be your last
year, are you in a way taking a bit of pressure off yourself, now finding it
easier to play - perhaps not easier to play, but without having so much extra
pressure on you from the outside?
PATRICK RAFTER: Another way to look at it is I feel more pressure because I
want to perform every week. I don't want to go out losing. I think, if
anything, I don't feel it either way. I don't have an opinion on it either
way.

I'm just playing good tennis anyway. Sometimes I come off and I lose, and
I've still played good tennis. It's okay. We all have those days.

Q. Is that still a possibility for you, that this could be your last year?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. I answer this question every time I come in. I'm a
little bit sick and tired of answering the same question.

Yeah, it is a possibility. I want to somehow not answer this any anymore. I
think it's my fault, though.

Q. Are you a little sorry you didn't keep that information to yourself?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I did it for the Australian public, not for anyone else.

Q. So do you think you're going to retire this year?
PATRICK RAFTER: I'll kick the shit out of you (laughter).

Q. Do you want some help?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I think I can handle him (smiling).

Q. You could play Pete.
PATRICK RAFTER: Right, yeah.

Q. Played him in a pretty dramatic match in an important place. Do you think
about that match often?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, sometimes it enters my mind. It was an opportunity that
I had to win that match. I got very nervous. I think right now it's very
different. I was coming off something. I'd been playing good tennis, but I
hadn't had too many great results.

I was just so happy to be there in the final, I guess I lost track of the
match. When I got into a winning match, I got very nervous, very tight. This
is a little bit different. I'm starting to prove myself and starting to play
good tennis.

But Pete, you know, he's one of the best ever. See how it goes on the day.
But he's got a tough match tonight. He knows he's going to have to play well
to win. But, you know, the possibility is there to play. I've got to serve
like I did today and somehow get his serve back.

Q. Serious question on the end of the year. If it does come to that, and you
got just one major that you can win, knowing your love of Davis Cup, knowing
what you did at Wimbledon last year, if you had to choose, could you choose?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, I don't ever go into a tournament like that, or any major
or Davis Cup or any tournament. I go there trying to win every one. If I can
win one, I'm just so happy and grateful for that.

I wouldn't say this is more important or this is more important, whatever.
They're all very important to me, and I'll take anything I can get my hands
on. That's the way I look at it.

Q. The situation going into your two US Open finals was slightly different.
You were playing pretty well, everything was going well. How different were
those nerves going into Wimbledon? Was it because of the situation
surrounding you or was it partly because it was Wimbledon?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think it was a bit of both. The US Open, you're right, I
was playing great tennis. I had the results on the board. There was nothing
to think of on the court.

When I got out there, I hadn't been in the situation for quite awhile, hadn't
been in the final of a Grand Slam. And, hang on, this is Wimbledon.

Sure, that plays a part. I think both played a part. I didn't stand up under
the pressure. Simple as that.

Q. How much stronger you think you might be if the opportunity arose again?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, mate, I'd hope to think a bit better.

Q. Since you have this idea floating around, "Maybe it is my last year, maybe
it isn't ."
PATRICK RAFTER: La-ti-da.

Q. Once you take your break, what comes next? I assume you're not going to
take the rest of your life off?
PATRICK RAFTER: I could.

Q. Have you given any thought to that?
PATRICK RAFTER: No, have no thought of what I want to do. I want a big break
for about six months. I'm sure something will pop up.

Q. It seems like, listening to you over the years, one of the things you like
about tennis is just the battle, going out there and fighting the fight
against whatever opponent you have. In retirement, you may not get that
battle. Have you thought about what you're going to get up for every day
that's going to get your juices going?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think just not going and jumping on a plane will get me
excited, not being in another hotel room. I think that's reason enough to get
out of bed with a big smile on your face.

Q. If they played every tournament in your backyard, that would be great,
you'd be here till you were 50?
PATRICK RAFTER: It would be a lot easier, put it that way. Then you'd
probably want to travel, so.

Q. With Rod Laver courtside like he was today watching your match, does that
add more pressure to you or inspire you more?
PATRICK RAFTER: I didn't see him. I didn't see Rocket. He's a legend, isn't
he?

Q. Was he a big hero for you?
PATRICK RAFTER: God, yeah. He's a hero for everyone. There's nothing not to
like about the guy. He's just one of those guys, he's a great bloke. I didn't
see him. If I saw him, he would have just inspired me.

Q. Can you talk about the way you're playing? Does this level you're playing
this tournament, how does that compare to some of the other times you've
played at such a high level?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I think, you know, the Aussie Open I played pretty
consistently. I just got better and better as the matches went along. This
seems that way. It's happening again this week.

I want to keep the momentum going this week, next week also in Miami. Two big
tournaments. Then there's Davis Cup. I'm going to work really hard for the
next three weeks.

Q. As someone who clearly doesn't like the plane travel and everything, why
would you set up your schedule South Florida, California, South Florida?
PATRICK RAFTER: Got to be on a plane somewhere. I mean, you've got to be
flying somewhere, get to somewhere. I mean, I don't live in America; I live
in Australia. I live in Bermuda, but I just came from Australia, Davis Cup.
Got to get here.

Q. Could there be an all-Aussie final?
PATRICK RAFTER: A lot of work to do yet, mate. We'll just slow down a little
bit.

Q. What do you think is keeping Lleyton from making the jump between where he
is right now to, say, your level or Guga's or Agassi's or Sampras'?
PATRICK RAFTER: He's close. He's very consistent, no doubt about it.
Sometimes he gets a little overpowered by certain guys. Day in, day out, he's
probably one of the most consistent competitors out there. It's going to be
tough on him, too, to continue to do that. He's got a very
physically and mentally demanding game.

He'll make it, I think. I've been a big believer in Lleyton's game. I've seen
him in big-match situations. I think if he gets a couple more big-match
situations, you'll see how good he is, like a semifinals again or a finals of
a Grand Slam. You've got to beat him.

I don't know the answer for why he hasn't really made it just yet. But he's
only 20. Leave him a bit of slack yet.

END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

03/14/01 - Interview: Patrick Rafter on Tuesday
(The IW Site)

P. Rafter d. G. Rusedski 6-3, 6-2.

MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You couldn't be unhappy with that effort today?

"I think things are changing, crowds are changing." 
 
PATRICK RAFTER: It was good today. The singles was great. Started serving
well, which I struggled to do. Done a little work with Tony on it over the
last few days, as well. Hit the ball pretty well. Played the big points well.
All in all, today was really good.

Q. Do you think you played as well in that match as you did in your match
against Philippoussis in the US Open? As I remember, you only made six
errors.
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, you probably could compare it to when I played him in
'97, US Open. Better comparison, when I played Rusedski maybe. Probably
easier to compare.

Q. You played them both.
PATRICK RAFTER: But why wouldn't you compare it to the Rusedski match?

Q. I think you made fewer errors against Philippoussis.
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, it's one of those sort of matches that you don't get
the opportunity to play a lot of baseline rallies. The areas that you do
make, you might think they're unforced, but they come up as forced on the
errors sheet.
I don't know. I played solid. It's very hard to gauge your performance on a
match like that because you don't get any rhythm. He doesn't get any rhythm,
obviously, playing me, as well.

Q. You enjoy serving a big server off the court? That's what you did.
PATRICK RAFTER: It feels good because I've been serving so poorly. I started
off the first couple of games with a very, very low percentage. I think I
made two first serves out of ten or something. I thought, "oh, here we go
again." So it was just a great feeling to serve well.

Q. A couple of weeks ago you were saying how well you were playing, starting
in Barcelona through the Australian season. Your serve let you down in Dubai.
The way you played today, is that the level you feel you were at at the
Australian and Barcelona?
PATRICK RAFTER: Again, I think it's sort of very hard to gauge that
performance as well, because of the nature of the match. But I did serve
well, and I think - when I do serve well, I do tend to start playing well.
The rest of the game flows a little bit easier. I think it's the same with a
lot of people. You can be a bit more experimental on the other guy's serve.
Hopefully I continue serving well, I can step up and win those sort of games.
Then I think the rest of my game, that should fall into place.

Q. You're playing doubles now, does that say your physical problems are
pretty much behind you?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, the physical problem is not an endurance thing. It was
a problem from salt and a lot of liquid loss.

I'm playing doubles because it's just another option there for the Davis Cup
in case they want to throw me in. Last few matches I played, I played pretty
badly in the doubles. I want to obviously play some more. I've always played
well, great singles, when I played doubles. I feel the shoulder is strong
enough to support it.

Q. Do you feel the shoulder is close to a hundred percent now?
PATRICK RAFTER: It is, provided that I continue to do my work and take my
breaks. Unless I take my breaks, the shoulder will not hold up, it will fall
apart. It's as simple as that. I need to take my breaks. Go hard the next few
weeks, take a break and get ready for the next big swing through Europe again.

Q. How many weeks can you go without taking a break, not feeling it's going
to be a bit dodgey?
PATRICK RAFTER: Now since I'm playing doubles, I'm going to try to play most
weeks now. I don't know, maybe six or seven weeks. I'm hoping I can do that
because in the past I was doing roughly that six, seven, eight weeks, then I
needed about a three-week break to get it right again.

This will be another good learning experience to see how I do go with the
doubles, as well.

Q. When Rusedski came in here, he made the point that the court is playing
sticky, as he put it, that it seems to make your serve even more explosive.
He suggested that he thinks you have a good chance of winning this
tournament. How would you respond to those remarks?
PATRICK RAFTER: If you look at the field, I wouldn't put my name on anyone.
It's just too tough a field here. Everyone's here. Everyone wants to win.
This is one of the big ones. I now feel honestly that there are 32 guys out
there that can win this tournament, and I'm one of them. I'm going to try to
take it one match at a time.

I am confident enough of getting through a couple of good matches. If I can
continue to serve the way I am, I think the other guys will find it difficult
to return it.

Q. A little bit earlier Mark came in and spoke about a tough situation, but
he said, "My body and myself has to come first, I have to be selfish, if that
means missing Davis Cup, it means missing Davis Cup." Could you comment on
that?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah. Listen, you know, we've had a talk about it, the whole
Davis Cup team. We've just said, hands up, "Whatever you want to do."

We've tried the bickering and the fighting, and it hasn't worked. You know,
from both sides, it hasn't helped either of us. We just want to go out there,
and if Mark's available, he's available. As simple as that. He's got to be
selfish. His knee has got to come first. If he does blow it out, that's
another few months off it. He can't afford to do that.

No one can really afford to take that sort of time off, especially coming up
to the French, Wimbledon, US Open. It's a big three or four months coming up
there.

Q. Corretja reportedly had a heartfelt conversation with you about the
Spanish fans. What did that mean to you?
PATRICK RAFTER: It was good of him. He came and approached me. Thought that
we had a bit of a problem, I had a bit of a problem with him. There were a
few things I told him that I thought could have been handled differently. You
know, it was good of him to talk about it because it is a sensitive issue. We
got it out and there's no worries.

Q. How do you think Brazil will compare to Barcelona?
PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, mate, you're going to have to ask me that later on. It
will be an interesting experience, for sure. Guga and Larry said there will
be 10,000 screaming fans and it should be a great atmosphere. We'll see.

Q. Do you like playing in front of those soccer crowds?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, Barcelona was tough. I'd have to say it's more
disappointing to see the way people take sport, different culture, than the
way we get brought up in Australia. Sort of hard for us to handle at times,
but that's the way it is.

It does create a great atmosphere and a great tie, even if it is against you,
and even if they are bitching and fighting. Every fan that was there at the
Davis Cup, even the Australians, just loved it.

Q. Are you saying you feel it goes beyond a sporting fairness?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I think in tennis it does, yeah. I think it goes a
little too far. Maybe it's a New Age fan, I don't know. Everything else is
changing.

Q. Question about an important subject. What are the plans for your hair,
what's the future?
PATRICK RAFTER: I really don't know. I'll just let it go and see what happens.

Q. At this point are you going to let it grow out?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not too long. Probably could be off again quickly. I don't
know.

Q. It was an important subject.
PATRICK RAFTER: Very important.

Q. Has Andre Agassi given you any advice about going from a long-hair to a
short-hair player?
PATRICK RAFTER: He didn't have much to say on his. He's already receding. I'm
not receding.

Q. Have you thought about going Andre's way, all the way?
PATRICK RAFTER: I haven't got a great-looking head, mate. I want to keep a
little bit of hair up there, hide it.

Q. Are you still batting mentally around the idea of retiring or are you not
going to deal with the thought until the end of the season?
PATRICK RAFTER: Unfortunately it comes to my mind. I would like to think that
I wouldn't be able to think about it. But I'm excited about slowing down,
that's for sure. That's exciting.

Q. When you're playing well, like you did today, don't you think...?
PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, you don't.

Q. Don't want to think about it?
PATRICK RAFTER: Not really. But when you jump on a plane, you think, "God,
this is great, I can't wait to stop doing this. Just can't wait to stop going
to another bloody hotel room." Done all that, mate. Can't wait for that to
finish. When you're on the court and doing the hard work, that's the fun bit.

Q. Have you talked to anyone who has retired, like Mark Woodforde?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think Mark and I probably would be in a different
situation. Everyone's different, as well. Some people miss it; some people
don't. You have to talk to them individually. Everyone's very different about
how they accept it. I really won't know how I accept it until I've done it.

Q. Where do you think you'd spend most time, if it did happen? Bermuda or
back at home?
PATRICK RAFTER: It's really hard to say at this time. I would like to spend a
lot of time in Bermuda and see how I like that. I have a place on the beach
in Queensland, as well. It's going to be pretty hard to leave that place.
Right now I'd just sort of play it by ear and see how I feel, see where I fit
in.

Q. You were talking about a lot of things changing. What are some of the big
changes you've seen since you've been on the tour? Mostly in terms of the
fans?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think I was being sarcastic a little bit about the fans. I
think things are changing, crowds are changing. Probably being a little bit
sarcastic, mate.

Q. You're known for your athleticism, movement on court. Can you describe
what it feels like when you're really in the groove?
PATRICK RAFTER: Mate, it's enjoyment. It's being out on the court and having
fun. When you're moving well, when I'm serving well, it all comes together.
When I move well, this is fun. You can walk off the court, "I got to that
ball, he hit it, I ran and got that." It's fun playing that way and I do
enjoy it. When all that stuff is in the groove, you can come off a court and
lose and say, "That was fun, I enjoyed that." You try to get as many days of
those a year as you can.

Q. Does an instance or two come to mind?
PATRICK RAFTER: I think it was '98 French indoors against Todd Martin. We had
a beauty of a match. Came off, said, "That was great fun." I played great
tennis. I lost 7-6 in the third. That was fun, yeah.

END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports