Aussie Living Magazine Autumn 2000    Accompanying pictures

Fcbruary 2000 and Patrick Rafter's mates are struggling against the Swiss in the middle of the Davis Cup tie. He'd probably rather be there with them. Helping them out. But he can't.

He makes his way through the heat and tangled streets of Pembroke, Bermuda, on his moped, stares out across the waves on the bay and tries to put a stop to all those worrying thoughts that keep choking his head. Tennis-wise it has not been a good time for Pat Rafter. In one year he has gone from being King, No. 1 in the world, to somewhere way out of the top 10. He winces now as he moves his right shoulder. The hard serving, the volleying, the years have ripped a hole in his rotator cuff that's taking its time to heal.

It's an injury he's been punished for in public. An unforgiving American crowd, hyped for a kill, booed Pat, then defending US Open Champion, oft' court after he pulled out of a first-round clash last year. Then the Australian Open: something he's been wanting to pull-off for years, has had to wait as his injury prevented him from competing.

Pat is working on his shoulder, willing it to grow strong, trying to forget "what if"? He's doing this in Bermuda, the place he's called home for years now. The pressure is off there, people don't know who he is. "And if they do, they don't really care," he said.

It is hard to tell what sort of tennis future Pat Rafter has. He's been under the heap with injuries before. Two years of aching wrists, ankles and hips in 1995 and 1996 saw his ranking spiral to 68. It looked like he had gone to the dogs. Then, in 1997, Pat flicked this aro undwith an awesome first US Open Grand Slam tide win which raised him to No. 2 in the world rankings -surprising everyone, not least himself.

The urgency to win. The uneasiness with dealing with success. It's something that's been there from the beginning. His father Jim Rafter has said, " If there's a fault in Pat, it's probably that he does lack fire a lot of the time. 1 wondered sometimes if he had enough killer instinct." Jim can tell you about the time when Pat was 14 and 6-2, 5-0 up on a friend. He let his friend have three games before sealing it. His mother Jocelyn asked

him why. "He's my friend. Who wants to lose 6-2,6-0, " said Pat.

John' Newk' Newcombe, the Davis Cup captain who Pat worships as "God' along with Tony 'Rochey' Roche, got well-spooked for a moment in 1997 when Pat was two sets down in a match against the French. Newcombe had to do something fast, to et Pat to find the "fire in his belly" Newk relieved was there. He banked on terror actics and started yelling in Pat's face, "This s a goddamn war we're in, and we're going to bury this French expletive." It worked. Pat took out the next three sets.It may have been only one match, but it's one that has been a defining moment in the success of Pat Rafter. For all the doubts - "I never thought I'd win a grand slam," he once said - there's a certainty that Pat clicks into when he's up against it. "Something picks me up when 1 get into a five-setter and, although I'm down, 1 know 1 can go out there and still accomplish what 1 have to accomplish. 1 know I'm going to be the last one out there. My body might not want to last, but my mind and everything else wants me to keep going."

It's something that took Pat winning 10 five set matches in a row to understand about himself. It's also something his mother Jocelyn, the person he credits with being his greatest supporter, has understood all along. "The best thing you can say to Pat is,' You can't do it'." She also knows that being up there in the world is different for Pat than others. The fame, the money, it's never been a motivating factor for him. If I fall to 50 in the world and I'm happy, it's better than being number one in the world and being a pain in the arse'' says Pat.

At one US Open he forgot to pick up his cheque for $650,000. When he did, he donated half of it to The Starlight Children's Foundation. Twice he's given back tournament appearance fees around the six figure mark when he believed he'd turned up ill prepared and bummed-ot in the first round . "If I had someone over at my place, like a builder, and he didn't do a good job, why should he get paid for it? That's the way I look at it. I didn't do a good job, so why should 1 get paid for it?" explained Rafter.

His mother is speaking now. Manning the phone of Pat's Cherish The Children Foundation, a charity body directed by his sister Louise Rafter that donates to different children's charities. Jocelyn speaks with the calm of someone who worked out a while ago what was important in life. "Well, life is pretty simple," she says straight up. " You make it difficult."

She is a woman who has brought up nine children in circumstances that had little to do with money. Her husband clocked up 14-hour days to put food on the table, and together they seemed to crystallise in the hearts and souls of their children one unmistakable thing: "Your biggest joy is going to be through your family. You can have millions and millions of dollars, but if you don't have love, you don't really have anything."

You ask why Pat chose children to give money to, and she tells you it might have come from her own passion "Obviously we all have sympathy for all sorts of people, but 1 see a child as helpless in an adult world. They don't have a voice and they're so neglected in the world. And 1 think for Pat, just being part of a big family and always being told to look out for the little ones [might have influenced his choice of charities]."

It was his sister Louise who talked to Pat about the Youth Off the Streets program in Sydney which became the foundation's first charity. She spoke of kids whose young lives had become a private hell made rotten with drugs and unspeakable abuse. For Pat, they were things that churned his insides and left him without words. "Oh my God. How lucky are we?" was all he first said

Pat's played basketball with these kids. Tried to make their lives fun for a moment. But, in the end, it leaves him with guilt - playing basketball is not enough. And in his book Rocket To The Top -On the Road with Pat Rafter (Harper Sports) he describes the sick knowing that at the end of the game they'll most likely go around the corner and find a different kind of release through drugs.

Pat grew up with parents who told their children to follow their dreams and they'd be there to support them. It wasn't always easy. When he was 17 and first travelling on the circuit, his big brother geoff had to use his ATM card to get them into a bank foyer in Barcelona where they slept on the floor.

In his book, Rafter writes that his mother once said in an interview that she had always known he was going to do something special. But Jocelyn speaks as a mum whose babies have all been special. For Pat to be No. 1: "That was never part of the plan. It was only just to get out there and do the best you can," she says. "It just happened."

When he was 12, the Queensland selectors by-passed Pat thinking his puny frame would never hack the long haul. Jocelyn couldn't care less about this. Her son had a dream and she moved down to Brisbane with him to help him make it happen.

Through the years Pat's had one brother who was his coach, another his manager and accountant, and they have often travelled with him. But despite having support on tap, ultimately he needs to be on his own. The wanting to please and to be approved of messes with his head and gets him off track. "I think there is less expectation from others if you're on your own. That way you can create your own goals and lock into them."

Of his girlfriend, Australian model Lara Feltham, one of her qualities he most enjoys is her independence, "I really respect the fact that she doesn't need me around to make her happy," he said.

The expectations, the opinions, they've always come loud through the press. it stung when John McEnroe tagged him a 'One Slam Wonder'. But Pat slugged it back at him with a second, back to back US Open win. The experts, the critics, the public, they've all got their ideas about Pat and where he should be. In Bermuda, he can turn his mind off this. For one thing has always been clear, if playing tennis stopped being enjoyable tomorrow he would walk away. He might not be King again, but he will always have his family and himself. For now, though, he'll concentrate on strengthening his shoulder so he can represent Australia in the Davis Cup again.

New Idea article Dec 2000

Jocelyn Rafter loves children. So when her tennis ace son Pat set up his own charity to help disadvantaged kids, the mother-of-nine and her daughter Louise just knew they had to get involved in it.

Tennis ace Pat Rafter grew up in a home full of love and joy. And from the sprawling family property on the outskirts of Brisbane, Pat’s sister Louise and his mum Jocelyn are intent on spreading that love even further.

Speaking exclusively to New Idea, Louise, 29, and Jocelyn, 61, tell how they’re busier than ever overseeing the Patrick Rafter Cherish the Children Foundation – a charity the elite sportsman set up nearly two years ago to help children in need.

And they can’t contain their excitement at joining forces with Advantage Australia, a program designed to increase sales of Aussie-made products by rewarding shoppers for buying them.

“When Advantage Australia approached us to use Patrick as their figurehead, we all thought it was a wonderful idea,” Louise explains.

“Not only are the products made in Australia, but every time someone purchases an Advantage Australia item, they will be helping kids in need, because a share of the proceeds will go to the Cherish The Children Foundation.”

The first three products bearing the Advantage Australia label are about to hit the shelves. And Jocelyn, the charity’s managing director, laughs when asked if there’s any significance in one of the products.

“There’s margarine, orange juice – and there will also be meat pies, which are Patrick’s favourite meal. Every time he comes home, the first thing he says is: “Mum, where’s my meat pie? He always has one between two slices of bread with cheese and barbecue sauce all over it,” she says, shaking her head with a smile. “He just loves it.”

“I think what Advantage Australia are doing is so wonderful, and we’re more than happy to get behind them,” she adds.

“It’s so important that people realise that there are corporations and companies out there who care about our kids. Every purchase people make will ultimately go to helping a child.”

Inside the Rafter home, the phone rings constantly as Jocelyn and Louise are kept busy with the day-to-day running of Pat’s charity.

“This has become a full-time, seven days a week job and it seems to have taken over my life,” laughs Jocelyn.

“Sometimes I think I should be working on getting my own life back again. But then I see some money go to a particular charity and get feedback on what they’ve been able to achieve with it. It’s so fantastic that I forget about myself and get back into it again.”

Louise, who is the foundation’s director, says it wouldn’t exist without the tireless efforts of her mother – and best friend – Jocelyn.

“We don’t have much spare time at the moment, but we really love what we do,” Louise says.

“It’s not a job to me, it’s more like a mission. It’s wonderful being involved in a project that turns children’s lives around. What could be more worthwhile than that? “The upbringing we had was incredible and that’s what Pat is trying to give back, because he feels so lucky. For me to be a part of making that happen is fantastic,” says Louise.

But she admits that along with the joys there have also been some tears.

“To feel loved and valued should be every child’s right. But for many children that’s not the case. There was one boy we met whose father left when he was born and whose mother passed away a year ago. She had been using him as her sexual partner and it wasn’t until after she’d gone and he was on the streets at the age of 16 that he found out what his mother did was wrong. He was devastated. “Your heart goes out to those kids who have been through things that should never have happened. “If we can help him and others like him and show them there are people out there who care about them, the time we put into achieve that is insignificant.”

Louise adds that the charity aims to help children who have bee abused, kids who are ill, first time juvenile offenders “or any other child in need”. And she says it’s not just about giving money, it’s about hope and care.

“If we can give these children some happiness, even if it’s just for 10 minutes, then it’s all worth it,” she explains. “That’s more than a lot of them have ever had before. Another thing that makes me really sad is seeing people living in these huge homes with no garden, and all the kids playing out on the street. That’s wrong,”

Jocelyn agrees. “Your children should be the most important thing in your life – they are a gift,” she says. And she admits there will probably never come a day when there isn’t one child or another in her life.

“Probably not,” she laughs. “They’re all so beautiful though, aren’t they?”

As for Louise having kids of her own, she says there’s no chance of that in the near future.

“I’d absolutely love to have children one day, but I’m kind of busy right no with the charity. Even when I’m meditating, I’m still thinking: ‘OK we need more of this; we need more of that.’ Besides, I think it would also help if I’d met that one special person, and that hasn’t happened yet!” Louise adds with a laugh.

Newk and Rochey hang on for Rafter 17 November 2000
Sportal

Davis Cup captains John Newcombe and Tony Roche have admitted the reason they hung around this year after regaining the Davis Cup in France in 1999 was to get Pat Rafter's name on the trophy.
Rafter has been one of the most passionate players to represent Australia in Davis Cup yet missed out on the glory last year due to injury.

Roche and Newcombe who took control of the team in 1994 the could have happily left at the end of last year if Rafter would have been part of the victorious team.

Rafter now has the chance to experience victory if the Australians prevail over Spain in Barcelona but they start underdogs against the clay court specialists.

Newcombe however said he was extremely confident the team could repeat last year's success.

"When Australia won the Davis Cup last year, Tony and I were thinking of retiring at that stage," Newcombe said.

"But we sat down and had a talk which lasted about a minute and we said to each other: `We've got some unfinished business.'

"The unfinished business being that Pat Rafter's name is not on the Cup.

"We want to get Pat's name on the Cup and we're not known for leaving unfinished business lying around.

"I think you can start writing his name on the Cup - that's how we feel."

Rafter is like a son to the Davis Cup bosses, with Newcombe saying his long-time cohort Roche wouldn't hesitate to "jump on a plane and travel halfway around the world" if Rafter needed him.

And the admiration is reflected straight back, with Rafter crediting the pair for turning him into a grand slam winner.

Newcombe recalled a situation when he went "berserk" at Rafter in the now famous match against Cedric Pioline at White City in 1996 when Rafter was down two sets and apologising for losing before the match was over.

Newcombe can't recall what he said. He just knew he couldn't stand seeing Rafter so slumped and lacking in confidence.

"I thought he'd lost that ball of fire inside which says `you can't beat me unless you kill me'.
"I just went berserk at him. I can't remember what I said but I couldn't stand seeing him so slumped in his chair.

"He'd lost that ball of fire but somehow he found it again."

Rafter went on to win the match and has always said that match was the turning point in his career, delivering US Open wins in 1997 and 1998.

Newcombe and Roche doing it for Rafter 17 November 2000

By MICHAEL DONALDSON

John Newcombe and Tony Roche could have quite happily ended their Davis Cup tennis reign after last year's triumph in France but felt they had one more goal to achieve - to get Pat Rafter's name on the trophy.

Rafter started his Davis Cup career at the same time as Newcombe and Roche took over in 1994 but missed being part of what should have been the trio's crowning glory when he was forced out of the 1999 final through injury.

Just three weeks out from his last match in charge of the Australian team - the 2000 Davis Cup final against Spain in Barcelona - Newcombe said the only reason he and Roche stayed on was to get a win with Rafter on board.

"When Australia won the Davis Cup last year, Tony and I were thinking of retiring at that stage," Newcombe said.

"But we sat down and had a talk which lasted about a minute and we said to each other: `We've got some unfinished business.'

"The unfinished business being that Pat Rafter's name is not on the Cup.

"We want to get Pat's name on the Cup and we're not known for leaving unfinished business lying around.

"I think you can start writing his name on the Cup - that's how we feel."

Rafter is like a son to the Davis Cup bosses, with Newcombe saying his long-time cohort Roche wouldn't hesitate to "jump on a plane and travel halfway around the world" if Rafter needed him.

And the admiration is reflected straight back, with Rafter crediting the pair for turning him into a grand slam winner.

The same process is under way with Lleyton Hewitt, with Newcombe revealing how much he enjoyed overseeing the development of the irrepressible South Australian from the time he entered the Davis Cup squad as a 15-year-old "orange boy" and gradually turning into a world power.

"He's a real character, a really funny kid," Newcombe said of Hewitt with obvious affection.

The development of Rafter and Hewitt, and to a lesser extent Mark Philippoussis, is the legacy Newcombe and Roche will leave after their seven-year reign.

But it wasn't always so rosy or cheerful, with the pair this week recalling their first year in charge when Australia dipped out of the world group following a loss to Hungary.

Back then, Newcombe and Roche had a young Rafter lacking self-confidence, a promising 18-year-old called Philippoussis and a doubles combination of Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.

Australia lost first-up to Russia, with Rafter a "nervous wreck".

After beating New Zealand, the understrength Aussies lost to South Africa in Durban when Woodforde had to forfeit the final singles because of exhaustion.

Finally, they lost to Hungary.

"On the long flight home, we knew were going to get a heck a of a lot of criticism - and quite rightly because we were one (win) and three (losses) in our first year and you have to cop it," Newcombe said.

"That was a time when Rochey and I could have walked away but we didn't.

"The message we got across to the players was that this was a test of their characters.

"I think that marked the revival of Australian tennis."

Woodforde vividly recalls Newcombe getting his message across with the subtlety of sledgehammer during the Woodies' first Cup match under Newcombe's courtside reign.

The pair, Wimbledon champions at the time, were down two sets to love against Russia in 1994 and playing horribly.

Suddenly, Newcombe started berating the Woodies with expletive-laden demands to lift their performance.

"I couldn't believe the blue language you came up with," Woodforde told Newcombe by video at a farewell lunch this week.

"You just gave us a gobful. I was looking at you and all I could see was this moustache going up and down."

The Woodies bounced back to win the next two sets but lost the final set 8-6.

"But that's the only match the Woodies have lost playing under you," Woodforde added.

And Newcombe recalled a similar situation when he went "berserk" at Rafter in the match against Cedric Pioline at White City in 1996 when Rafter was down two sets and apologising for losing before the match was over.

Newcombe can't recall what he said. He just knew he couldn't stand seeing Rafter so slumped and lacking in confidence.

"I thought he'd lost that ball of fire inside which says `you can't beat me unless you kill me'.

"I just went berserk at him. I can't remember what I said but I couldn't stand seeing him so slumped in his chair.

"He'd lost that ball of fire but somehow he found it again."

Rafter went on to win the match and has always said that match was the turning point in his career, delivering US Open wins in 1997 and 1998.

Newcombe classed that fightback as one of three best memories.

The others were Hewitt's Cup debut in which he beat Todd Martin and Wayne Arthurs' similar effort against Yevgeny Kafelnikov in Brisbane in the 1999 semi-final.

While Newcombe and Roche are winding up their Davis Cup partnership, their friendship will continue for years to come - or at least until Newcombe achieves the one remaining task he's set himself.

"I'm going to spend my time looking for the good bottles of red wine Tony's got hidden all over his house.

"I just know he's got some Grange buried somewhere and I'm going to find it."

Knowing Newcombe's famous determination, the bottle should be open soon.

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