Shoulder sinks Rafter's Cincinnati challenge 5 August 2000 by Chris Harris Sport.com

Pat Rafter's participation in the U.S. Open has been shrouded in doubt after
the Australian pulled out of next week's Masters Series event in Cincinnati.

The Australian's season has been hampered by a debilitating shoulder injury
and the problem flared up again as Rafter toppled out of the Canadian Open in
Toronto against Jiri Novak.

The Czech prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in the quarter-finals on Friday with
Rafter seemingly resigned to defeat before announcing his intended absence
from Cincinnati.

Rafter explained that he would return to his base in Bermuda for treatment on
the troublesome shoulder to ensure the problem is not aggravated.

"The problem I learned from the last shoulder injury was that if it's not
getting any better while I'm playing it's time to take time off and get it
while it's early," said Rafter.

"If you keep pushing through it then it escalates into a bigger problem, and
that's something I want to avoid. I'll take it a week at a time and I won't
be back until it's right."

Splendid run of form

The powerful Australian will be hoping it is right in time for the U.S. Open,
which starts at Flushing Meadow, New York, on 28 August.

Rafter's hardcourt prowess has earned him U.S. Open titles in 1997 and 1998
and he has been tipped to prosper again in the final Grand Slam of the season
after a splendid run of form.

Since recovering from the initial shoulder injury, Rafter's imposing
serve-and-volley game carried him to the final of Wimbledon and, although
Pete Sampras prevailed on that occasion, Rafter's fine form continued in the
Davis Cup where he inspired Australia to a 5-0 drubbing of Brazil.

Rafter has been equally impressive in Toronto, growing in stature through the
early rounds and seemingly poised to exploit a decimated half of the draw as
seeds tumbled with alarming regularity.

However, Rafter joined the exodus instead of capitalising on it, leaving
Novak to take his place in the Toronto semi-finals.

It may yet be a blessing in disguise for the amiable Australian. The Masters
Series events carry important points in the ATP Champions Race, but Rafter
will no doubt prefer these titles to elude him and recover in time for the
prestige of Flushing Meadow.

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Affable Rafter gains popularity even in defeat 5 August 2000 by Chris Harris Sport.com


If the old saw is true that you can learn more about a person in adversity, then Patrick Rafter distinguished himself yesterday.

The winner when the Tennis Masters Series Canada tournament was last held in Toronto two years ago, Rafter was ousted in the quarter-finals yesterday, losing 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 to Czech Jiri Novak.

Soon after the loss, it became known that his right shoulder, which he had surgery last October on to repair a rotator cuff tear and inflammation, has begun to act up again.

He gave credit to Novak.

"Jiri returns well and I just couldn't get my serve out of his zone," he said.

He then patiently answered a long series of questions, including a query out of left field about which player he admired most.

"I'd have to say Guga [Gustavo Kuerten]," he responded after careful thought. "He's a great guy and a great, great player. I like the way he thinks about life. He's very laid-back and very friendly with people.

"And someone as good as [Andre] Agassi, he has a very good approach to people as well. People like those two the first time they meet them."

Rafter might as well have been talking about himself. He may not be quite as off the wall as Kuerten or as quick-witted as Agassi, but his affability and candour have made him just as popular.

His loss yesterday is a tough blow for the tournament. If you called the Tennis Canada switchboard any time over the past three months, you would get the usual quick greeting and then hear a recorded message in an Australian accent saying, "Good day, mate, I'm Pat Rafter and I hope you will join us in Toronto for the Tennis Masters Series Canada."

Tournament organizers should be impartial, but Rafter's appeal is undeniable and irresistable.

Retired Canadian star Grant Connell of Vancouver is a mate, to use the Australian argot, of Rafter who is working at the tournament in player liaison.

"He's a fan favourite because he's an everyday kind of guy," Connell said yesterday. "I was just at a volunteer luncheon and they were asked to vote on their favourite player. Pat won and it's because he's down to Earth. He's the product of a large family [the third youngest of six boys and three girls]. You get out of line and they hammer you back down."

Connell, who was ranked in the top 100 from 1989 to 1991, was a serve-and-volleyer like Rafter.

"Pat's a pure serve-and-volley player and I can't think of anybody else like him at his level," Connell said.

Rafter's serving and undaunted rush to the net is his calling card. It is a rigorous, demanding and, in today's tennis, unconventional style of game.

"He doesn't think of serve-and-volleying as being hard," Connell said. "He just thinks of it as the best way for him to win a point.

"He reminds me of [Stefan] Edberg. Edberg could stay back and rally with guys, but ultimately he was going to win by coming to the net."

The way he serves puts stress on Rafter's vulnerable shoulder, but he insisted yesterday he would never consider altering his approach to take some of the load off the joint.

"It's not going to happen," said Rafter, who likes to go to the net behind a high-kicking spin serve. "When I first came back [in February], I tried to serve a bit flatter and I just wasn't enjoying it. I said, 'If I couldn't play my type of game, and with the intensity I want to play it at, then I don't want to be on the court.' This has been my game my whole life. I can't change it, because I don't have that many years left."

The re-emergence of the shoulder ailment makes his appearance in the Olympics next month a little more problematic.

"I've never played the Olympics before and it's something I've always wanted to do," he said. "I've got to go all the way back to Australia [after the U.S. Open ends on Sept. 10] because I'll be carrying the torch [around the Sydney Opera House] the day before [the Olympics begin].

"If I'm going to go all the way back, I'd better be playing."

Don't bet he won't be.

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Ailing Rafter upset by Novak at Tennis Masters Series-Canada 4 August 2000
.c The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) - There isn't going to be a rematch of this year's Wimbledon 
final between Pete Sampras and Patrick Rafter at the $2.95 million Tennis 
Masters Series-Canada. 

An ailing Rafter fell apart after winning the first set in a 3-6, 7-6 (1), 
6-2 quarterfinal loss Friday to Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic. 

Rafter, who revealed after the match that his right shoulder has been sore 
all week, said he was withdrawing from next week's Tennis Masters event in 
Cincinnati. 

``This shoulder thing is very, very sensitive. Very delicate,'' said the 
14th-seeded Rafter, visibly concerned by his recurring injury. ``I've played 
so much tennis now that it's become fatigued. 

The stunning loss before a packed crowd on Centre Crowd was only the second 
in 18 matches for Rafter, whose last defeat was to Sampras in the Wimbledon 
final on July 9. 

``I have to go back to the drawing board, and the only way to do that is by 
taking time off,'' the Australian said. 

The 27-year-old Rafter underwent right rotator cuff surgery in October and 
returned to play in February, highlighted by his Wimbledon final appearance. 

``It's not getting any better. In fact, it's getting worse,'' he said. ``I 
have to take time off now if I'm going to be ready for the U.S. Open.'' 

Novak chased down almost every shot by Rafter and rifled forehand passing 
shots down the line. 

``I think the tiebreaker was the key of the match,'' said Novak. ``It gave me 
a lot of confidence.'' 

Rafter, the 1998 Canadian Open champion and two-time U.S. Open winner, had 36 
unforced errors to Novak's 13. Rafter bounced his racket off the ground and 
hammered a ball into the crowd in disgust after dropping his serve in the 
third set. 

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A good old rant before bedtime
by Mary Carillo

It's Friday night and I'm late with this story. I'm supposed to give my opinion about the U.S. Women's Olympic Team selection -- what I think of the fact that America will be ably represented by a "Murderer's Row" of talent -- Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams and Monica Seles in the three singles spots, and Venus and Serena Williams playing the doubles. I mean, what's not to like?

They'll be hauling off the hardware for sure. No need to worry about Martina Hingis -- she isn't even playing in the Olympics. Like a lot of tennis stars these days, she only plays for herself. But that's a different rant ...

Actually, it isn't. Pete Sampras isn't playing the Olympics either, and he hasn't exactly distinguished himself as a Davis Cup "Go-To Guy."

He says he wants to play for history, to rewrite the record books. He wants to be compared to his heroes, the great Aussies of the past. "I want to be like the Lavers, the Rosewalls, the Emersons," he says.

(Side rant to Pete: Unless you're discussing their entire families, please drop the plurals here. The reason Laver is Laver, frankly, is because he proved there was only one of him.)

Well, Sampras is terrific, and it's a privilege to watch him do all the swell stuff he's doing. But note this too, Pete -- all those Aussies played Davis Cup willingly, honorably, and with great distinction. But that's a different rant ...

Actually, it isn't. Patrick Rafter played his way past Andre Agassi in a magnificent semifinal match at Wimbledon earlier this month. The Aussie then had a glittering chance to be up two sets to love against Sampras in the final, but after he ended up losing the championship, he picked himself up and flew to Australia.

He played the Davis Cup semifinal the next weekend and helped his country advance to the championship round yet again. And he showed that you can still dream the dreams of the great ones who came before you. But that's a different rant ...

Actually, it isn't. John McEnroe couldn't cobble together a good enough team last weekend to get the U.S. Davis Cup squad into the final with the Aussies. For one reason or another, the big boys stayed home. The one match he thought was winnable was the doubles, especially if he played himself, but of course that didn't happen, and the whole team got skunked. But that's a different rant ...

Actually, it isn't. Unlike the men's side, the captain of the women's Fed Cup and the Olympic captain, Billie Jean King, has all kinds of people who actually want to play for their country. In fact, that was the problem for Billie. The three singles spots were chosen strictly off the computer ranking the day after Wimbledon. There's no discussion, no jostling, no whining. Because she lost to her sister in the semis, Serena Williams dropped below Monica Seles and was off the list.

But the doubles team had to be chosen by Captain King, and as someone who spent the Wimbledon fortnight sharing a house with her, watching her watch her potential doubles players, I can tell you the decision process was very difficult for Billie.

There are a lot of fine U.S. doubles players -- always have been. Davenport is excellent. She, along with Hingis, is probably the best doubles player in the world, and she's ranked in the top five. Lindsay and her best friend, American Corina Morariu, are one of the best teams in the world, but Morariu fractured her elbow at Wimbledon.

And how about Lisa Raymond? For 18 months, she's worked on her doubles to make the U.S. team. It's been a long-term goal and a long-time dream. Along with Aussie Rennae Stubbs, Raymond has played everywhere and won 11 tournaments, including this year's Australian Open. She's been ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles for months. Though she and Stubbs lost in the Wimbledon semis, she was still ranked No. 1 in the world the day after Wimbledon.

She thought she had made the team, surely. But a funny thing happened to Raymond: the Williams sisters. They have barely played tennis this year and barely played as a team. With no doubles ranking, they needed a wild card to get into Wimbledon. Yet they won two of the three events they played in the last year, and both were majors -- the '99 U.S. Open and Wimbledon 2000.

Billie Jean watched all this and the whole thing gave her a headache. Months ago, when asked about playing the Olympics, Venus implied she'd only go if Serena got chosen, saying, "It would be a long way to go without my sister."

(Side rant to Venus -- A long way? You don't have to row there! And it's the Olympics. Jeepers.)

So now what? Any one of the American players could win a medal in any combination. And Captain King can only have four on the whole team, unlike the guys, who can choose six. But that's a different rant ...

Actually, it isn't. The men have better guidelines than the women. Why they aren't the same is a sub-rant that I'd be happy to share with you some other time ...

So what did Billie Jean decide? To go with the Williams sisters. And lord knows they should win the gold. But should they be competing for it? Anyone else have a problem with this?

You know what I keep thinking about tonight? I keep thinking about the Australians. What if Rafter and Philippoussis played together at Wimbledon this year and won it? Do you think they'd want the Woodies' (Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge) doubles spot on the Olympic Team? I'm guessing a big no here.

And I'm thinking that no self-respecting Aussie would deliver ultimatums to play for his country. And I'm thinking that Aussies play fair and win and lose fair and square. No agendas, no tacit threats, no back-room shenanigans. All they want is to play.

So here's what I know:

That Pete Sampras isn't as much of an Aussie as he wants to be.

That John McEnroe would do a lot better coaching Aussies.

That Captain King, faced with a terrible decision and no Australians, blinked.

That Venus and Serena don't even get all this ranting. That it wouldn't make much of a dent in them, anyway. They don't have the Aussie mentality, except that they sure can play.

That Lisa Raymond deserves a spot on this team. As they say Down Under, bad luck, mate.

I think the Aussies get it a lot righter than the rest of us.

That's all for now. A new day yawns ahead. And behind every rant, there's the hope of a rave ...

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Pat Rafter's off in search of another Grand Slam 26 July 2000 by Kim Trengove oncourt.com
 
Patrick Rafter leaves his Australian base in Brisbane tomorrow for the
Masters Series tournament in Toronto. The good news is, Pat feels confident
about extending his winning form and capturing a third US Open trophy when
the hardcourt Grand Slam tournament gets underway on August 28.

"I feel as though I can enter any tournament and win it," Rafter said. After
his stunning grass court season, which resulted in his third Heineken Trophy
and his best ever Wimbledon, reaching the finals, Rafter headed back to
Brisbane to lead Australia into his second successive Davis Cup final,
winning both his singles rubbers against Brazilians Gustavo Kuerten and
Fernando Meligeni.

Pat swore at the end of the semi-final tie that he would hit the sack for at
least a week. As it turned out, he took one day off. Says his brother, Pete
Rafter, "The guy can't sit still."

Pat played golf every day for up to five hours, then started physical
training, which included some work-outs with the Brisbane Broncos. He saw Mel
Gibson's 'The Patriot' and, accompanied by long-time girlfiend Lara Feltham,
caught up with family members and friends.

Pete said his brother was hungry for more success, and is particularly keen
to win Wimbledon in 2001. "He's hungry for Wimbledon," Pete said. "He has
been told that you've got to lose one final (at Wimbledon) before you can win
one."

It's going to be a busy and exciting nine months for the dual US Open winner,
now ranked 15 in the world and also sitting in 15th position in the ATP
Champions Race. First stop is Toronto, a tournament he won in 1998 en route
to winning Cincinnati, Long Island and the US Open. Last year, Rafter paired
with Jonas Bjorkman to win the doubles title at Toronto, defeating Byron
Black and Wayne Ferreira in straight sets.

Things could hot up at York University this year if Pat runs into fellow
Aussie Mark Philippoussis. Rafter was unhappy with Scud's withdrawal from the
Davis Cup semi-final against Brazil and has not spoken to him since.
Following Toronto, Pat will play the Tennis Masters Series tournament in
Cincinnati. Last year, he was beaten in the final 7-6, 6-3 by Pete Sampras,
Pat's conqueror at Wimbledon this year. Next stop is Indianapolis, then
Rafter will have a week off before the US Open, where last year he retired
against Cedric Pioline in the first round with shoulder problems.

Rafter had shoulder surgery in October and didn't play again until February
this year. The shoulder is now well healed and Pat isn't experiencing any
soreness. "He's keen to make the most of what he's got right now," Pete said.

After this US Open, he will head to Sydney for the Olympics and carry the
Olympic torch in front of the Sydney Opera House before the opening ceremony.
The latter quarter of the year will be devoted to Davis Cup, sharpening his
form on clay in preparation for the final against Spain. It doesn't stop
there. After a brief interlude called Christmas, Rafter will be gunning for
his first Australian Open title.
END

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