retirement

Our Pat announces his retirement from professional tennis

January 10 2003

We will miss you Pat!

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Rafter gone for good
January 10, 2003

PAT RAFTER has officially retired from tennis.

The two-time US Open champion made his announcement in an open letter the media today.

The letter reads as follows:

"I know it's been a while coming, but I am announcing my official retirement from professional tennis," Rafter said.

"As you can probably understand, it has been a very difficult decision for me to make, which is why it took me some time to be sure I was making the right decision.

"After taking several months for my arm to recover from stress fracture injuries I sustained in late 2001, I wanted to make sure that besides gaining physical fitness, I still had the motivation to compete.

"If I couldn't commit to giving 100 per cent to the game, then there would be no point in returning. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn't there and my decision was made.

"I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that's sport, you win some and you lose some.

"However, I feel I can leave the game, satisfied with my achievements, knowing that I gave it my all.

"I loved being a professional player, competing with the world's best and making new friends all over the world. I will certainly miss some aspects of the game in my retirement, but for now, I need to stay home and focus on the new developments in my life.

"I haven't made any decisions about my future yet, and I'm not in any hurry. Now that I've officially retired, I feel like my mind is free to make decisions beyond competing in the tennis arena.

"A big thank you to my tennis fans in Australia and worldwide for their tremendous support and patience as I debated my future.

"I would also like to thank my partner Lara, my family, Newk (John Newcombe), Tennis Australia and the ATP.

"Special thanks though must go to Rochey (Tony Roche), who has been instrumental in my development as a tennis player and played an integral role in any successes that I achieved."

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Pat Rafter Formally Announces His Retirement

Thu January 9, 2003 07:25 PM ET
By Julian Linden

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Former world number Pat Rafter formally announced his retirement on Friday, more than a year after he played his last competitive match.

The Australian released a statement saying he had thought about making a comeback after his year's sabbatical but no longer had the motivation to start all over again.

"I know it's been a while coming, but I am announcing my official retirement from professional tennis," Rafter said.

"After taking several months for my arm to recover from stress fracture injuries I sustained in late 2001, I wanted to make sure that besides gaining physical fitness, I still had the motivation to compete.

"If I couldn't commit to giving 100 per cent to the game, then there would be no point in returning. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn't there and my decision was made."

One of the few genuine serve-and-volleyers to succeed in the modern game, Rafter won the 1997 and 1998 U.S. Open titles and briefly reached the top of the world rankings in July 1999.

But the popular Australian from rural Queensland never won the two major titles he craved the most -- Wimbledon and the Davis Cup.

He finished runner-up at Wimbledon in 2000 and 2001 and played in two losing Davis Cup finals, but missed Australia's victory over France in 1999 through injury.

His last competitive match was at the 2001 Davis Cup final in Melbourne where Australia lost 3-2. Rafter pulled out of the deciding singles match with an injury and never played again.

"I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that's sport, you win some and you lose some," he said.

"However, I feel I can leave the game, satisfied with my achievements, knowing that I gave it my all."

One of Australia's most admired sportsmen, Rafter has been showered with awards and tributes in the past year. He was named as Australian of the Year for 2002.

Although he never ruled out making a comeback, Rafter said last year it was unlikely to make a full-time return after he and his girlfriend Lara Feltham became parents of a baby boy, Joshua.

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That headband aside, Pat was pure class
January 11 2003

Pat Rafter brought more to tennis than epic struggles and thrilling victories, writes Richard Hinds.

It is not so much the thought that Pat Rafter will never win Wimbledon, the Australian Open or hold up the Davis Cup that was cause for regret after yesterday's final, this-time-it's-for-keeps retirement announcement. What seems so sad it is that we will never again see him attempt to do so.

The record will show that Rafter won two US Opens, was twice a Wimbledon finalist and, for a precious week in 1999, held the world No1 ranking. Thus, he will forever occupy a place on the game's cloud eight - just beneath those at the very top level.

But, of course, the raw data will never fully reveal the other things Rafter brought to the game.

Among the essential elements: a terrible shaggy beard, possibly the worst shorts of the modern era, a dodgy ponytail, a large and caring family, class, dignity and good humour in the face of bitter disappointment, a decent (OK, a bloody good) physique, a strong but usually understated patriotism, a disgraceful headband, an endearing lisp, impeccable manners, an ironic grin and an antique serve-volley game that sometimes demanded more effort than Rafter had to give.

Somehow, the sum of all that became the ultimate Australian sporting hero. For Rafter, the corny old line rings true: women want to date him, men want to be him.

But perhaps Rafter's ultimate accomplishment was to have been universally admired not simply for what he had achieved but for the manner in which he went about it. In an era of flag-waving jingoism, Rafter did not have to win Wimbledon to make you feel proud of your country. He could do that by missing his ball toss, waving an apologetic hand in the direction of an opponent and saying, "Sorry, mate".
Having taken a year off to decide his future, yesterday's retirement announcement was widely anticipated and typically matter-of-fact.

"After taking several months for my arm to recover from stress fracture injuries I sustained in late 2001, I wanted to make sure that besides gaining physical fitness, I still had the motivation to compete," it said. "If I couldn't commit to giving 100 per cent to the game, then there would be no point in returning. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn't there and my decision was made."

There had been strong speculation Rafter would come back two months ago after he consulted specialists about his troublesome arm and took his racquets from the cupboard. He also sought counsel from his coach and trusted adviser, Tony Roche.

The medical opinion was that he could play on but with no guarantees the painful arm and shoulder injuries that had dogged him for three years would not recur. The coach's advice was that Rafter would have to put his head down and grind his way back to form at lesser tournaments if he was to have a legitimate chance to win Wimbledon.

The alternative to that potentially painful journey was to spend more time with his partner, Lara, and their four-month-old son at their $5.5million Mosman home (which, perhaps indicative of Rafter's intentions, does not have a tennis court).

Upon his initial lay-off, many of Rafter's friends and family had said he would never return to the circuit once he found out what a good time everyone else had been having while he was slogging it out on the practice court. So, although they are always the last to hear about Patrick's decisions, members of his family were not surprised by yesterday's announcement.

"I don't know how much he thought about it himself," said his mother, Jocelyn, on Sydney radio. "He really needed that time off. I used to look at him and think he looked so tired. Maybe it's taken him all this time to rest his body and his mind. It's been a lovely journey."

Despite two US Open titles, Rafter will probably be best remembered as the loser of two of the most compelling matches in recent history. His five-set defeats in 2001 to Andre Agassi in an Australian Open semi-final and to Goran Ivanisevic in the Wimbledon final were the cause for massive disappointment, yet somehow only enhanced Rafter's reputation as a fierce competitor.

More unfortunate were the injuries that ruined his chances of winning the Davis Cup. In the 2000 final against Spain in Barcelona, Rafter was forced to default during the second rubber because of leg and wrist cramps. The next year, he could not play the deciding rubber against France - the match that should have been his grand farewell - because of an arm injury.

But unlike another great Queenslander, Greg Norman, Rafter's epic defeats do not linger as tragedies. Rather than a chronic underachiever, he will be remembered as someone who bloomed relatively late and whose swashbuckling game sometimes overwhelmed more talented opponents.

"I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that's sport - you win some and you lose some," said Rafter's statement. "However, I feel I can leave the game satisfied with my achievements, knowing that I gave it my all."

Even more enduring than Rafter's record will be his usually impeccable demeanour and the sheer normality that seemed unusual in a world where pre-pubescent talents are treated like rock stars. This was among the benefits of being one of nine children in a family that did not always have it easy.

Rafter once spoke of how, as his ranking began to improve and the sponsors and agents came knocking, he started to get a big head. "Then you go home and they all kick you in the backside and you remember who you are," he said.

People will remember who and what Rafter is long after they've forgotten what he won and lost.

What they said ...

"If I couldn't commit to giving 100 per cent to the game, then there would be no point in returning. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn't there and my decision was made." Pat Rafter

"I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that's sport, you win some and you lose some." Rafter again

"He was one of the nicest guys to ever pick up a racquet." Lleyton Hewitt.

"He's still hitting the ball well enough to chop up a lot of guys on the tour. I thought this year would be fantastic, even if he just came back and played doubles. If we won the Davis Cup this year, it would be more disappointing if Pat wasn't there to celebrate it with us." Hewitt again.

"I used to look at him and think he looked so tired. Maybe it's taken him all this time to rest his body and his mind. It's been a lovely journey." Rafter's mother Jocelyn.

"One thing I do regret for him is him not being in the team when we won the Davis Cup. I think that would have been the icing on the cake for his career. God, Pat's been an incredible athlete, I don't think there will be an athlete on the court like Pat for a very long time." Mark Philippoussis.

"It's a pity. The game has lost a great character and artist. He was a great champion and sport, but one can understand his wish to turn to other things." Tennis commentator John Barrett.

"For us, and I can be very biased with it ... I've always found him one of the most exciting players ever to be playing, so for sure it's going to be sad to know he's finally saying goodbye to it." Rafter's sister Louise.

Patrick Michael Rafter

Born: December 28, 1972. Birthplace: Mt Isa, Queensland. Height: 185cm. Weight: 86kg. Career highlights: US Open winner 1997, 1998; Wimbledon finalist 2000, 2001.

Career singles record: 357-191. Career singles titles: 12 (Aptos Open 1993, Manchester Open 1994, US Open 1997, Chennai Open 1998, 's-Hertogenbosch 1998, Montreal/Toronto 1998, Cincinnati 1998, Long Island 1998, US Open 1998, World Team Cup 1999, 's-Hertogenbosch 1999, Indianapolis Open 2001. Career doubles titles: 13. Career prizemoney: $US11,103,311 ($21,254,289)

DAVIS CUP RECORD

Singles: 18-10. Doubles: 1-1

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

1993: Tennis Newcomer of the Year. 1997: Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award, most improved player, voted by People magazine in US as one of 10 sexiest men. 1998: Voted by fans as star of the year after winning six consecutive player-of-the- month awards. 2000: Carried Olympic torch on eve of Sydney Games; in People magazine's "the sexiest man alive 2000" issue. 2002: Australian of the Year; most admired sportsperson.

AAP

END

A Super Star and a Gentleman

Rafter was one of the most admired players the game has seen

For tennis fans in Australia and around the world, it was an announcement they feared would come, but hoped it would not. Pat Rafter has retired - officially.

Although speculation was strong that the two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1 would not return to the ATP circuit - the odds of a comeback grew proportionally with his absence from the game - loyal fans never fully gave up hope.

Rafter won back-to-back US Opens in 1997 and '98 and was a beaten Wimbledon finalist in 2000 and 2001. His 9-7 in the fifth set loss to Goran Ivanisevic in the 2001 final was one of the most dramatic ever played at the All England Club.

Rafter won 11 singles titles from 25 career finals. He won Tennis Masters Series titles in Canada and Cincinnati and was a Masters Series finalist on four other occasions. By reaching the Roland Garros semifinals in 1997 and the Australian Open semifinals in 2001, Rafter made it to the semifinal stage or better at the four Grand Slams.

But results alone do not reflect the impact Rafter had on the sport. A born-and-bred serve/volleyer, Rafter's athleticism and fast hands at the net thrilled fans in an era when serve/volley tennis had all but been abandoned by modern players.

Despite rising to world No.1, Rafter never lost his humility, remaining polite and friendly to all throughout his career. On the court, Rafter developed a trademark of saying "Sorry, mate" to his opponents whenever he caught his service toss.

He made large donations to charity and established his own Cherish the Children Foundation. He earned the ATP's Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award and won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award four times.

Rafter had not played since December 2001 when he defeated Sebastien Grosjean on the first day of the Australia-France Davis Cup final in Melbourne. Desperate to be part of a winning Davis Cup team, Rafter was unable to back up for the reverse singles and watched from the sidelines as France took the Cup 3-2.

Rafter, who was last year named Australian of the Year, is now enjoying life with wife Lara and their son Joshua, who is now five months old.

The third youngest of nine children, Rafter was born into a tight-knit family in the rugged outback Queensland mining town of Mt. Isa. From the most humble of beginnings, he rose to the pinnacle of his sport and left a mark that will long be remembered.

Patrick a true champ to end
By LEO SCHLINK
11jan03

AS A group of 20 crestfallen Australians breasted a bar deep in the Wimbledon village two years ago, Pat Rafter sought out his close mate Paul Kilderry.

Kilderry's task was simple. He was to track down as many of the Australian spectators who had spent the previous night camped on the concrete footpaths outside the All-England Club and invite them to a party.
Kilderry did not have to search far. Soon enough, Finches Bar was heaving with the sights and sounds of 200 perfect strangers who had roared themselves hoarse as Rafter lost a desperately close Wimbledon final 9-7 in the fifth set to Goran Ivanisevic.

Tennis is awash with greed, puerile administrators and notoriously grubby agents, but Rafter -- especially this night -- proved famously immune to the sport's unbecoming seediness as he left instructions with bar staff that no one was to pay for a drink.

The night was on Rafter as he left his credit car on the till. The mourning which inevitably followed another heart-breaking Wimbledon defeat could wait.

Rafter had stood on centre court as Ivanisevic celebrated, strangely happy for, and burningly envious of, the Croat, caught in a maelstrom of his own emotions. Two defeats in as many years in a Wimbledon final would be sufficient to break the spirit of all but the most stout-hearted.

But it was not until Rafter took the microphone and spied his coach and friend Tony Roche struggling to suppress his feelings in the grandstand that Rafter felt the sledgehammer blow of disappointment. True to form, Rafter fell silent, regained his composure and stoically went through the formalities.

As one of the more celebrated revellers in international sport, Ivanisevic soon came to hear of the Rafter bash where Roche -- probably more than the host himself -- was furiously hailed. It was more than self deflection. It was classy acknowledgment.

It was precisely the way no-fuss Rafter wanted it. The same could be yesterday as the former world No. 1 modestly issued his retirement statement, determined to avoid explaining the decisive phase of a chain of events he first set in train two years ago.

Having sensed some time ago he would not be returning to the sport which rewarded his astonishing athleticism and unrivalled sportsmanship with a lifestyle he could never have dreamed of growing up in Mount Isa and, later, Brisbane, Rafter wanted to go quietly.

When Rafter played his last match -- in the doubles rubber of the Davis Cup final against France at Melbourne Park 13 months ago -- he suspected it was over, but wanted to be utterly certain.

There have been many times since when he agonised over a return to a sport which is all the poorer for his absence.

As the winner of two US Open titles, Rafter will be viewed as an excellent practitioner of the dying serve-volley art. As impressive as his achievements were, his haul could have been all the greater.

He led Pete Sampras by a set (and 4-2 with two serves to come in the second set tiebreak) in the 2000 Wimbledon final, only be sabotaged by lack of matchplay as he recovered from career-threatening shoulder surgery.

Ivanisevic, having lost three Wimbledon deciders, created history the following year by winning at 125-1 to deny Rafter.

In the 2001 Australian Open, having won two of the first three sets of his semi-final against eventual champion Andre Agassi, Rafter succumbed to the cramps which eventually made his life a misery in the heat of battle.

It is not stretching the bounds of fantasy to suggest Rafter could have won as many as five majors, a figure which would have put him on par with Frank Sedgman and ahead of Lew Hoad and Ashley Cooper in the Australian gallery of grand slam stars.

At his peak, he was able to illuminate tennis against a backdrop of assembly line baseliners and it is one of sport's capricious quirks he should retire without a Wimbledon or Davis Cup champions' trophy on his mantelpiece, as his little mate Lleyton Hewitt is already assured of doing.

Rafter will not dwell on denial. His mindset will revolve totally around his partner Lara and their infant son, Joshua.

He despises ego and made as much clear to those who rubbed him the wrong way, including a startled female competitor after she haughtily jumped the queue for courtesy cars at Melbourne Park one night. His outrage at injustice was never far from the surface, nor was his thirst for independence.

More than anything, Rafter was the bloke everyone wanted him to be.

What you saw was precisely what you got.

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Hewitt: Pat inspired me * see other comments by Hewitt at www.lleytonhewitt.biz (2003 articles)

January 10, 2003
JUST days ago Lleyton Hewitt was urging Pat Rafter to ready himself for the Davis Cup this year.

Today he paid credit to the retired champion as the man who inspired Hewitt's own passion for tennis.

Hewitt spent time with Rafter in Sydney in the last week, playing golf and tennis, where he cajoled the two-time US Open champion to have one last shot at winning an elusive Davis Cup title.

Instead, Rafter today announced his retirement.

"He's still hitting the ball well enough to chop up a lot of guys on the tour," Hewitt said.

"I thought this year would be fantastic, even if he just came back and played doubles.

"If we won the Davis Cup this year it would be more disappointing if Pat wasn't there to celebrate it with us.

"If he was hitting in December and January and into February I don't see any reason why we couldn't have had him in the four-man squad, and depending on what happened on day one, maybe throwing him into doubles."

It was Davis Cup that first brought the pair together when a 16-year-old Hewitt was invited to be an 'orange boy' with the Australian team for the tie against France at White City.

"Pat was coming back from injury and wasn't training that well that whole week but he went out of his way to talk to us and talk about what Davis Cup is all about," Hewitt reminisced.

"Sitting on the sidelines watching him come from two sets and a break down against Pioline, who had made the Wimbledon final before that on grass - that's one of the main reasons why I want to play Davis Cup, why I love Davis Cup so much."

Rafter's retirement regrets are that he missed Australia's Davis Cup win in 1999 and came so close to winning Wimbledon in the epic 2001 final against Goran Ivanisevic.

Hewitt said Rafter played the leading role in dragging Australian tennis out of the doldrums in the 1990s, and would be remembered for doing so with an easy-going and friendly manner that endeared him to players and public alike.

"He was one of the nicest guys to ever pick up a racquet," Hewitt said.

"A lot of people are going to remember that more than anything - he looked like he enjoyed his tennis so much, whether he was winning or losing.

"After Pat Cash won Wimbledon and reached the final of the Aussie (Open), we had a fair while there when no-one was able to stand up.

"We were thinking that getting to the third or fourth round of a grand slam would be a really good effort.

"Pat took it to a new level, he made the semis of the French Open on clay, which is his least favoured surface, and then went on to win the US Open.

"He showed everyone in Australia, including myself and Mark Philippoussis, that it was possible."

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Rafter gracious in retirement: Patrick Michael Rafter was rarely one to make a fuss

As gracious in defeat as in victory, Rafter always yearned for a quiet exit.
He got one today when a simple note to the media confirmed the dual US Open champion, two-time Wimbledon runner-up and one-week world No.1 wouldn't make a return to the centre-court stage.

No public goodbye. No ego-indulging press conferences for one last slap on the back.

"It's a pity. The game has lost a great character and artist. He was a great champion and sport, but one can understand his wish to turn to other things," was how world tennis's longest-serving and respected commentator John Barrett met the news.

The Brit's sentiments will be universal.

Once footloose and fancy-free, Rafter is now 30 and very much a family man.

He will be remembered as a true modern-day great boasting award-winning sportsmanship.

And he will continue to be acclaimed for his charity, famed sex appeal and rich Australian charm and wit.

He was the 2002 Australian of the Year, but his star began to rise long before that.

In 1997, Rafter received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award for a rarely-seen gesture of fair play at a tournament in Adelaide.

He reversed a line call in the second-set tiebreak to virtually hand the match to Andrei Cherkasov.

Later that year, after winning his first grand slam in New York, Rafter donated $300,000 to the Brisbane Mater Hospital.

In 1998, after winning his second grand slam at Flushing Meadows, Rafter gave another $300,000 to the hospital's Starlight Foundation Express Room for terminally ill children.

Nowadays, The Patrick Rafter Cherish The Children Foundation, launched in 1999, does all the donating.

Rafter's good looks, combined with his impact as a tennis star and humanitarian on the global stage, was profound enough for People Magazine in the US to once vote him among the sexiest men alive, and the sexiest athlete with a pulse.

His status is even greater in Australia, where the spoils from his playing feats have hardly altered his humble persona.

Hailing from the largest family on the ATP Tour, the country boy from the outback Queensland mining town of Mt Isa burst onto the scene in 1993 when he was named ATP Newcomer of the Year.

Six years later, on July 26, Rafter's sure hands and acrobatics at the net had propelled him to the summit of world tennis, the No.1 ranking.

His often sublime serve-and-volley approach mixed with a scrapper's appetite for success was a breath of fresh air at a time when tennis fans were becoming bored of baseline-dominated play.

Rafter's only brush with controversy came after the 2000 Wimbledon final when he demanded Mark Philippoussis "stop jerking us around" and lay his Davis Cup cards on the table.

Rafter's tired taunt came immediately after he let the sport's most coveted title pass through his racquet strings.

He was upset at having to miss the traditional Wimbledon ball to instead fly back to help Australia's Davis Cup campaign.

That's "Our Pat", always helping a cause.

*******

More time for charity work

January 10 2003

Pat Rafter is expected to spend more time with his children's charity after officially retiring from tennis today.

Rafter's sister, Louise, who has been running his Cherish the Children Foundation with their mother Jocelyn, admitted to a touch of sadness at the two-time US Open champion's decision to give up professional tennis.

"For us, and I can be very biased with it ... I've always found him one of the most exciting players ever to be playing, so for sure it's going to be sad to know he's finally saying goodbye to it," she said.

But Louise said Rafter's decision would mean he had more time to spend working for his charity.

"He certainly wants to be more and more involved with his own foundation now because it means a lot to him to be able to continue giving back to those kids who really are in need," she said.

Rafter, the Australian of the Year, is also expected to spend more time with baby son Joshua Patrick, born last August.
His partner, 34-year-old Lara Feltham, recently returned to modelling as the new face of fashion label Charlie Brown.

Rafter, who lives in Sydney, said today in an open letter to the media: "I will certainly miss some aspects of the game in my retirement, but for now, I need to stay home and focus on the new developments in my life."

Louise said the Cherish the Children Foundation planned to release a memorabilia piece to coincide with Rafter's retirement.

AAP

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End of a 'lovely journey'

10jan03

PAT RAFTER's mother, Jocelyn, today described the former world No.1's career as a "lovely journey".

Mrs Rafter said she had been given no warning of her son's retirement, which was made official today after a 13 month break from the game.

"We don't talk work," she said on Sydney radio station 2UE.

"I don't know how much he thought about it himself. He really needed that time off.

"I used to look at him and think he looked so tired. Maybe it's taken him all this time to rest his body and his mind.

"It's been a lovely journey."

Rafter released a letter to the media today ending the speculation over his future.

The two-time US Open winner admitted it had been a difficult decision, but he was now looking forward to getting on with the rest of his life.

Rafter took a sabbatical after Australia's Davis Cup loss to France as he struggled with a shoulder problem.

Mrs Rafter admitted she would miss watching her son play, but said his well-documented shoulder problem had been a painful experience.

"We miss him out there, just the game he played," she said.

"He's a different dimension. You do miss him. But I suppose I will be able to relax now and enjoy the tennis. I was always a bit uptight when he was playing.

"We don't realise what they go through. He has turned 30 now and he has probably been thinking about the scenario about coming back.

"I think there would be times when he would ponder about it and I suppose when you look back over his life, that was his only love.

"It's a big thing to give it away."

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PM wishes Rafter well

10jan03

PRIME Minister John Howard today wished Australian tennis champion Pat Rafter well in his retirement.

Rafter, a two-time US Open champion, made his announcement in an open letter to the media today.

Mr Howard told reporters he was sad but not surprised by Rafter's decision.

"I think it was pretty clear last year after the (2001) Davis Cup tie that he may well have played his last tennis," he said.

"I want to say to you Pat, you've been a wonderful ornament of Australian tennis, a great sportsman, a role model in his demeanour to young sportsmen and women all around the country and all around the world."

END

McEnroe hails our all-round good guy
By MARK STEVENS
11jan03

LEGEND John McEnroe last night said he was sad that "good guy" Pat Rafter had officially retired.

"I know a lot were hoping he'd come back. Ultimately, the effort it would take and perhaps the pain was too much for him. It's sad," McEnroe said. "He always had the adage good guys finish first, which is a good thing.

"He was one of the best liked guys in the locker room. He was a guy's guy . . . someone that not only the No. 2 and No. 3 player liked, but also the No. 100 and 200.

"That's quite a compliment because it's not easy to keep those friendships and maintain that respect that he had."

McEnroe, frustrated about the dearth of serve-volleyers on the circuit, was a huge fan of Rafter's net-rushing style.

"I loved it. Unfortunately, it's a dying breed. He was also good enough to play the baseline, but was always looking to get to the net," he said.

"The way he looked was obviously a big hit with the women, but it was also the way he played that made him so popular."

McEnroe was once quoted as calling Rafter a "one-slam wonder" soon after the Australian's 1997 US Open triumph, but last night said the comment was completely misunderstood.

"When he had won the US Open for first time he went through a real period of struggle. I said if he keeps playing the way he's playing, he's not going to win another tournament," he said.

"I didn't expect he would keep playing that way. I expected him to play better and harder.

"For me that's an unnecessary diss or something. There's no reason for me to say that because I know how difficult it is to win one (grand slam title). I think Pat understood that. I told him at the time that was not the case and not what I said."

As tributes flowed in for Rafter yesterday, Mark Philippoussis joined the chorus of accolades.

The pair have in the past had their differences, but Philippoussis expressed his deep regret Rafter could not be part of the Davis Cup winning team against France in 1999.

"I think that would have been the icing on the cake for his career," Philippoussis said.

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Why we'll remember Rafter
By Tom Fordyce
BBC Sport Online

Pat Rafter has announced his retirement from professional tennis at the age of 30.

In his glittering career the Australian won two US Open titles and held the world number one spot - but there are other reasons why tennis fans will remember him for years to come...

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Serve and volley
In an era where the baseliners dominated the game, Rafter's style was a throwback to the old days, part of a heritage stretching back through Edberg, Becker and McEnroe.

It makes it all the more puzzling that he never took the Wimbledon title - although he came about as close as you could hope to get in 2001.

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Old-style hero
The story of Rafter's rise to the top of the tennis tree reads like an embodiment of the Australian dream.

Brought up out in the sticks, in Mount Isa, Queensland, he started playing tennis at the age of five with his brothers - of which he has five (not to mention three sisters).

Written off by numerous coaches, he steadily developed into the best player to emerge from Australia since John Newcombe.

But he never forgot his roots.

Older brother Steve manages his financial affairs, younger brother Pete travelled with him on tour, older sister Louise handles his public relations and older brother Geoff, once his coach, now handles his merchandising.

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On-court behaviour
Gamesmanship? Sledging? Forget it. Rafter was the perfect gentleman on court, even in the midst of his toughest battles.

If he be unhappy with the toss-up on his serve, he'd catch the ball, raise his hand to his opponent and shout, "Sorry, mate!" as if he were playing a park game rather than Grand Slam final.

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Flash with the cash
Did Rafter celebrate his first US Open triumph by going on the lash in New York, hitting the city's bars and ending up in a lap-dancing club?

No. He instantly donated half his US $1.1m winnings to a Brisbane hospital to pay for a leisure room for terminally-ill children.

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Easy on the eye

Rafter's appearance on court drew murmurs of pleasure from the ladies in the crowd in way that Tim Henman's never did.

Unlike that of most men, Rafter's sex appeal was somehow undiminished by a ponytail and, in later years, a fully-grown beard.

Still, the blokes have nothing to complain about.

Wherever Rafter played, his girlfriend Lara Feltham was there - and that was generally enough to keep the chaps smiling.

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Wimbledon 2001
Okay, Pat might never have won the thing. But the part he played in that epic final against Goran Ivanisevic 19 months ago will never be forgotten.

The most raucous crowd in Centre Court history were treated to one of the greatest men's finals of all time - and although Goran snatched it 9-7 in the fifth set, it was as touch-and-go as the scoreline suggested.

And, even in defeat, Rafter was as gracious as you could hope him to be.

END

Rafter remains true to himself
By Richard Yallop
11jan03
EVEN though many of those close to him, like Tony Roche, were keen for him to play on, Pat Rafter remained true to the characteristics that brought him two US Opens and hindered his efforts to win further grand slam titles.

First was his stubborn determination to do things his way – in this case not follow the advice of those urging him to play on at the relatively young age of 30.

Second was his difficulty in overcoming his nature and trying to re-motivate himself to step back into the jungle of men's professional tennis, where he had to force himself to do hard competitive things like trample over other players.

"Pat's a very gentle man, and it's not easy for him to get angry," a tour observer says. "His results weren't always consistent because he had to build himself up to that state."

The definitive stories about Rafter are still the ones about him deliberately giving friends games so they didn't suffer the humiliation of a 6-0 whitewash.

Third was his desire to retreat into something approaching normality, and his reluctance to return to the goldfish bowl of celebrity. He earned $US11.1 million in prizemoney, and even more in endorsements, but he has always acted like the affable and laid-back Queensland beach bum, albeit a polite and well brought-up beach bum with looks that led to People magazine in the US voting him the "sexiest man alive" in 2000.

Stubbornness made Rafter adopt a serve-and-volley style as a pint-sized kid when everyone told him he was too small to play that way. It kept him going through the early struggles when the family had little money and he was ignored in elite national squads.

And it helped him win those two US Open titles. After Rafter beat Andre Agassi in the fourth round in New York in 1997, Agassi ventured the opinion that Rafter could not go on to win.

Rafter was determined to prove him wrong, as he was the following year when John McEnroe dismissed him as a "one-slam wonder".

Rafter went on to win the 1998 final against fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis. The one sure way of bringing the devil out of Rafter was to tell him he couldn't do something.

The high tide of his career was reached in July 1999, when for just one week, he became the first Australian to be No. 1 in the world since John Newcombe in 1974. After that he was dogged by a persistent shoulder injury. He had not played competitively since he broke down with an aggravated shoulder injury at the Davis Cup final in Melbourne in December 2001.

Rafter's great regret remains his failure to play in a winning Davis Cup team in either 2000 or 2001. He still feels he let Australia down by withdrawing with cramp from his first singles in Barcelona in 2000 and by pulling out of the final rubber against France in 2001 with a shoulder injury.

Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald did not ask Rafter to play on. "We just wanted him to be sure," Fitzgerald said. "Our attitude was, 'if you're sure, go with our blessing, but don't wake up in four years and regret it'."

Fitzgerald questions whether Rafter would have won more grand slams, including the two Wimbledons at which he was runner-up in 2000 and 2001, if he had been more ruthless.

"You've got to be yourself. Pat could mix being a good guy with being a world-class player, and that's what made him so endearing," he said.

"His attitude was, give it your best shot, on the court and in practice, and then you can sleep content at night. That's the philosophy he lived and died by."

Fitzgerald was reluctant to rate Rafter against former Australian champions, and particularly those like Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser. His definition of "great" is anyone who wins a major in the Open era.

Laver, with his two grand slams of the four major championships, remains unchallenged as the greatest Australian, followed by Emerson, who won 12 grand slam titles, Rosewall who won eight and John Newcombe who won five.

There are players people admire and respect, like Hoad and Lleyton Hewitt, and there are those people love, like Rosewall and Rafter. Rosewall, like Rafter, never won Wimbledon, though he played in four finals.

Rafter leaves a legacy of the great Australian serve-volley tradition, and of grace under pressure, on and off the court. He is not simply a champion serve-volleyer who won two US Opens; in the often selfish world of professional tennis, he is also a champion human being.

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Rafter's career enriched us all
Editorial - Courier Mail
11jan03

THANK you linesmen, thank you ballboys, thank you Mr Rafter. Whatever Pat Rafter's retirement announcement yesterday might have lacked in terms of surprise, it more than made up in sadness.

Some athletes we respect. Others we admire. But very few do we take to our hearts, very few do we love. The two-times US Open champion is one such champion, and the manner of his departure yesterday goes a long way towards explaining why. There was no grandstanding from him, no ego-satisfying press conference at which he could soak up the adulation one last time. A simple note to the media sufficed – and on that simple note ended a tennis career that has brought huge credit to the man, to his family and to this nation.

Australians love winners and there is no doubt his twin victories at Flushing Meadows are etched into the memories of every sports fan in this country. But the world loves nothing more than a genuinely gracious loser and there is no question that when film editors down the centuries search their archives for images of grace and poise in defeat, they will head for the tape of the 2001 Wimbledon final. Anyone seeing that footage of Rafter and Goran Ivanisevic after their epic encounter would be hard pressed to nominate which player had won. Australia has never sent abroad a more appealing ambassador.

It was not just Rafter's graciousness, however, that we loved so much. It was the way he played, with dash and daring and more "swashbuckle" than a shipload of buccaneers.

The pity is, as Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald remarked yesterday, that even a slightly off-key Rafter might have been good enough to make the Wimbledon final this year, so hopelessly uncomfortable against an accomplished net player are most tour professionals. To win Wimbledon, indeed to win at all on the ATP tour, requires commitment and Rafter has seriously overspent his account in this regard. He may have no more to give but what he has given has enriched us all. All we can offer in return is our heartfelt thanks.

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Give Pat his Davis dream
By Paul Malone
January 12, 2003

THE International Tennis Federation is braced for an Australian push to have the name of retired hero Pat Rafter engraved on the Davis Cup.

Rafter's coach Tony Roche said the former world No1's name should be added to the panel on the trophy that bears the names of the four Australians who won the Davis Cup final in 1999.

Australia's patriotic Davis Cup player retired from tennis on Friday to live with regrets of not having won his most coveted prizes -- the Davis Cup and Wimbledon.

Rafter was injured and absent from Australia's victorious team that beat France in the 1999 final. Under the ITF's policy, it is that team list that appears on the trophy.

But Rafter was unbeaten in four singles matches earlier in the 1999 campaign, and won both his singles matches in the crucial quarter-final tie against the US.

Roche said the biggest injustice in Rafter's career was the fact he was not recognised for the part he played in the Nice triumph.

"He was an important part of the team and through injury he couldn't play in the final, and yet he doesn't have his name on the Davis Cup," said Roche, who is not given to provocative statements.

"I just think the ITF, or whoever is responsible, it's something they should look at," he added.

An ITF spokesman said last night that any change in the policy of which names appear on the 102-year trophy would have to be made by the ITF's five-man Davis Cup committee, which includes former Australian captain Neale Fraser.

Chaired by Spaniard Juan Margetts, the committee also comprises France's Jean-Paul Loth, American Harry Marmiam and Brazilian Nelson Nestas.

Any ITF decision to engrave Rafter's name with those of cup final spearhead Mark Philippoussis, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge could spark claims from other nations about adding the names of other unlucky regulars players retrospectively.

But The Sunday Telegraph agrees with Roche that Rafter's own sense of fair play, as evidenced by his four wins of the ATP's annual sportsmanship award and his devotion to Davis Cup duty, makes him the most deserving of a special case.

"There is almost no limit to how many players a team can use during four ties in a Davis Cup-winning year, or six back in earlier years," the ITF spokesman said.

"France [which has made three finals since 1999, including last year's victory against Australia] always uses more than four players during a year because they have so much depth."

Rafter said in his retirement announcement: "I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard. But that's sport, you win some and you lose some."

The Davis Cup, which at one stage was a fixture on the dining table of Melbourne's Wimbledon champion Norman Brookes, was first contested in 1900.

Australia's Davis Cup tradition is the reason the Australian Open is one of the four major tournaments and a source of millions of dollars in annual income for Tennis Australia.

The wins by Australasia, when New Zealand was represented by Anthony Wilding, and Australia before 1938 led to the nation being included in the grand slam.

A US journalist coined the term to embrace the achievement of Don Budge in winning the titles of Wimbledon, the US, France and Australia -- the four nations which, to that time, had won the Davis Cup.

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Rafter TV's perfect match
By Paul Malone
12jan03
AUSTRALIA'S most famous addition to the ranks of the unemployed, Pat Rafter, has potential as a television personality, an industry insider said yesterday.

Rafter, 29, who officially retired from tennis last Friday, said he had no idea what he would do professionally.

The Australian of the Year has spoken about escalating his involvement with environmental issues and also his Cherish The Children Foundation.

But Fox Sports director of marketing Adam Oakes said Rafter could be suited to a role as a television presenter or sports commentator.

Under an expired deal, Rafter had a contract with Fox Sports, making on-air promotions and giving interviews, and also wrote a newspaper column for The Sunday Telegraph.

"From our point of view, Pat is an incredibly well-liked Australian sporting icon," Oakes said.

"He has popularity. He's a tall poppy who people actually haven't tried to cut down."

Rafter, a two-time US Open winner, and his brother and business manager, Steve, were unable to be contacted on Friday.

"I haven't made any decisions about my future yet, and I'm not in any hurry," Rafter said in an e-mail to media on Friday, confirming he would not return for one more bid for a Davis Cup or Wimbledon title.

"Now that I've officially retired, I feel like my mind is free to make decisions beyond competing in the tennis arena.

"I loved being a professional player. I will certainly miss some aspects of the game in my retirement but, for now, I need to stay home and focus on the new developments in my life."

The Channel Nine and Seven tennis commentating teams consist almost entirely of former players and Seven has spent up big on the recruitment of John McEnroe for the Australian Open.

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January 11, 2003

Local hero's exit paves way for Hewitt succession
From Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent in Melbourne
www.timesonline.co.uk

PAT RAFTER said that he still hopes to see us around some time, not exactly the sentiment that a departing tennis player usually offers the press, but, then again, the completion of few careers — even if it was known a year ago that he would not be back — has provoked such an outpouring of grief in newsrooms. The Australian devoted eight articles to Rafter yesterday.

The announcement of the 30-year-old’s retirement could not have been more pertinently timed, as the nation gagged on the draw for the 2003 Australian Open and wondered if Lleyton Hewitt might succeed where his best mate failed in nine heartbreaking attempts. Hewitt was asked what he could do to emulate Rafter and find an enduring niche in the affections of the Australian public. “That’s difficult . . . I don’t know, I really don’t know,” he said.

“When I came back from the Masters Cup in Shanghai, I can’t tell you how many people had stayed up to watch a delayed telecast. The support I’ve been getting has been great. I put my hand up every time Davis Cup comes around and that helps in the public’s eye.” Australians admire Hewitt, they love Rafter. There’s the rub.

At least Great Britain is spared the thought that Rafter might have come out of mothballs to lend his talents to the Davis Cup tie in Sydney next month, as Hewitt suggested he could. Given the state of the British resources, even a player who had not struck a ball for more than a year might have presented a sinister foe. But we have seen the last of Rafter, who should have won Wimbledon for himself and the cup for Australia in 2001. By then, his arm was really beginning to hurt and more than a year from the circuit did nothing to prick his interest.

Instead, Rafter became a father, buried himself in his charity work, played an enormous amount of golf (his shoulder could not have been that bad) and resisted all overtures to get back in his tennis garb. “I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that’s sport, you win some and you lose some,” he said. “I feel I can leave the game, satisfied with my achievements, knowing I gave it my all. I loved being a professional player, competing with the world’s best and making new friends all over the world.

“After taking several months for my arm to recover from stress fracture injuries I sustained in late 2001, I wanted to make sure that besides gaining physical fitness, I still had the motivation to compete. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn’t there.”

Hewitt came in to pay his personal tribute to Rafter, the man who took him beneath his wing when he was a 17-year-old “orange boy” in Australia’s Davis Cup squad and filled a teenager’s mind with wonders. The pair played golf and tennis last week and Hewitt had no idea what Rafter was planning. “He was still hitting the ball well enough to chop up a lot of people on the Tour,” the world No 1 said. “It was always going to be a tough choice for him because everyone in the world wants to see him come back again. He has been incredible.”

And so it’s goodbye to Rafter but, who knows, maybe hello to a home Australian champion in Hewitt. The outcome of the draw delivered Hewitt an unknown foe in the first round — he plays a qualifier — and, in the second, potentially Cecil Mamiit, the American who gave him a considerable workout on the Rod Laver Arena yesterday.

The first seed in Hewitt’s way is Gustavo Kuerten, of Brazil, who would have to outdo his best performances here — four second-round knockouts — even to reach a prospective meeting of No 1s past and present. At least Kuerten has confirmed that he will be giving Wimbledon, where he was a quarter-finalist in 1999, a shot again, having sidestepped the past two years.

Hewitt was asked what he thought of the draw and his response was typical. “A draw’s a draw, mate, you’ve got to win seven matches, that’s all I know.” His half bears many notable opponents — Andy Roddick, Marat Safin and Roger Federer for three — and also contains the match of the first round, Mikhail Youzhny, who broke the hearts of all France in the Davis Cup final last month, against 16-year-old Richard Gasquet, a musketeer in the making.

In the women’s draw, the first stop for Serena Williams, the No 1 seed, on what may become a procession towards her fourth grand-slam title in succession is Emilie Loît, of France, who reached the fourth round here in 1999.

For Elena Baltacha, the only British representative of the 256 entrants in the two fields (and that thanks only to a wild card from Tennis Australia), lurks Alexandra Stevenson, the American who was a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 1999, the No 15 seed.

Arvind Parmar’s 6-1, 7-5 defeat by Amir Hadad, of Israel, a man with the build of a nightclub bouncer, in the second round of qualifying meant that, for the first time since 1994 at Roland Garros, there was no British man in the main draw of a grand-slam championship.

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TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR RAFTER
Sporting Life
Tributes have poured in for Pat Rafter after the Australian ace announced his retirement from professional tennis.

The two-time US Open champion, also twice a runner-up at Wimbledon, has been plagued by elbow and shoulder problems in recent years and has now decided the time has come to hang up his racket.

The 30-year-old revealed his decision in a statement: "As you can probably understand, it has been a very difficult decision for me to make, which is why it took me some time to be sure I was making the right decision.

"After taking several months for my arm to recover from stress fracture injuries I sustained in late 2001, I wanted to make sure that besides gaining physical fitness, I still had the motivation to compete.

"If I couldn't commit to giving 100% to the game, then there would be no point in returning. By the end of 2002, the motivation just wasn't there and my decision was made."

Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee described Rafter's decision to finally call it a day as a "defining moment".

Speaking after the draw for this year's Grand Slam, McNamee said: "The guy has won two Grand Slams, made a couple of Wimbledon finals and made a great contribution to Australian tennis.

"He's made a definitive statement about retiring. He's had a wonderful career, he's got a wonderful place in the sport and is revered all over the world."

The former world number one last represented his country in the Davis Cup final against France in December 2001 when Australia were beaten 3-2.

And the epic Wimbledon final against the unseeded Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 represents the one that got away.

Rafter admitted: "I will have regrets that the Wimbledon and Davis Cup trophies are not in my cupboard, but that's sport, you win some and you lose some."

But McNamee added: "He's been Australian of the Year and there has only been one thing he didn't get. But no one gets it all in life."

Fellow Australia team-mate Mark Philippoussis described Rafter as a "once in a generation player" and regretted the fact he missed out on the Davis Cup victory.

"Pat's had an incredible tennis career, winning back-to-back US Opens," Philippoussis said. "Pat's been an incredible athlete. I don't think there will be an athlete on court like him for a very long time.

"One thing I do regret for him is him not being in the team when we won the Davis Cup. I think that would have been the icing on the cake for him.

"He was a nice guy and he was liked by every guy out there. He will be missed, especially by the spectators. He had a lot of fans out there."

Speculation has circulated for over a year whether or not Rafter, now married, a father and settled on Sydney's luxurious north shore, would have the desire to return.

"Life is so tough on the tour and I would think being a father changes everything and I think his priorities have changed," added Philippoussis.

"I would like to wish him all the best."

Rafter's retirment announcement ended: "Now that I've officially retired, I feel like my mind is free to make decisions beyond competing in the tennis arena.

"A big thank you to my tennis fans in Australia and worldwide for their tremendous support and patience as I debated my future.

"I would also like to thank my partner Lara, my family, Tennis Australia and the ATP."

Current world number one Lleyton Hewitt added his own tribute, saying: "He was one of the nicest guys to ever pick up a racquet.

"A lot of people are going to remember that more than anything - he looked like he enjoyed his tennis so much, whether he was winning or losing.

"After Pat Cash won Wimbledon and reached the final of the Aussie Open, we had a fair while there when no-one was able to stand up.

"We were thinking that getting to the third or fourth round of a Grand Slam would be a really good effort.

"Pat took it to a new level, he made the semis of the French Open on clay, which is his least favoured surface, and then went on to win the US Open.

"He showed everyone in Australia, including myself and Mark Philippoussis, that it was possible."

END

Fans Across The Globe Speak Out: We'll Miss You, Pat!

The official announcement of Patrick Rafter's retirement has prompted many of his fans to pay tribute to the Aussie favorite here on ATPtennis.com.

In addition to winning 11 titles - including two US Open championships and two Tennis Masters Series events - since turning professional in 1991, Rafter was just as popular for his off-court demeanor as he was for his athletic serve-and-volley style on it, and he was awarded the ATP's Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award no less than four times during his career.

"I think what I will remember you the most for is your sportsmanship and how you played the game," writes Kathy. "I just wanted to say it has been my pleasure watching you."

Sentiments echoed by a number of fans, among them is Chris Lockwood from Scotland who says: "The man himself will be greatly missed with the way he conducted himself on and off the court, represented his country and sport and gave his all to his charity work."

As an Australian, Rafter helped carry his nation to three consecutive Davis Cup finals between 1999-2001, and took the Olympic torch from Olivia Newton-John on the eve of the Sydney games in 2000 before carrying it past the Opera House.

"He's Aussie!," says one of his many fans from Australia. "He has always been an excellent ambassador for us and always gives his best for his country, as was acknowledged when he was named Australian of the Year in the 2002 Australia Day celebrations…The Aussie team will never be the same without Our Pat."

One of the many qualities which sometimes embodied all Patrick Rafter entailed took place during his matches. "I'll never forget him saying 'Sorry, mate!'" says Hisayo from Japan. "I believe he'll be remembered as one of the tennis legends."

But not only was Rafter the true gentleman, he is also remembered for his fighting spirit, typified by his matches against Andre Agassi in the Wimbledon semifinals of 2000 and 2001.

One Australian fan writes: "Those matches are firmly engraved in my memory as two of the greatest efforts I have ever seen by a sportsperson. He pulled off shots in those two semis, that although might be normal shots for another player like Sampras, must have taken unimaginable courage on Rafter's part to be able to pull them off."

Even in defeat, Rafter's grace was there for all to see. Ursula Albrecht from Poland remembers one particular occasion from the US Open. "Patrick is the nicest and most special person I have ever met, always a top class bloke - winning or losing, always kind to his fans. Even after his first round defeat to Galo Blanco at the US Open in 2000 he found time for the group of fans waiting for him till 1am, signed autographs and even agreed for a photo. I can't really think of any other players who would do that."

As the tennis world contemplates life without Patrick Rafter, Jean-Pierre Nikolovski sums it all up when he says: "Patrick Rafter epitomized good sportsmanship, fair play and respect for others. He was inspiring to watch and not to mention great to look at for the ladies!"

Here are some more of your tributes:

Dear Pat,
You are a great player, but, more important, you are a great man!!
- Goretti, Portugal

It's such a contrast, we're sorry for no more being granted with the sight of one of the most beautiful playing style ever, great competitor and champion, but really happy with all his achievements (professional and personal) and pleasure he has always brought to fans all over the world. Be happy and be as successful in your new job; being a great father and a great husband. Farewell Pat.
- Izo Camacho, Brazil

Pat's kamikaze serve-and-volley style was a thrill to watch in men's tennis. He consistently outclassed opponents with his superb kick/spin serve and deft touch at the net. It was simply amazing. He would be down 0-40, second serve, and you knew he was going to serve and volley. So did his opponent. His opponent had to step up to the plate and be able to pass him, point after point to win the match. There is a lot to be learned from Pat Rafter's time in the sport. Not only was he the last of the classic serve-and-volley style players, but a gentlemen on and off the court. Many coaches and juniors out there could learn well to introduce the single-handed backhand, slice backhand and Serve/Volley style back into the game. Professional tennis and it's spectators will miss you, Pat.
- Jason Chase, Australia

I believe Rafter is going to be sorely missed. He has been a fabulous player, who has been very exciting to watch. I particularly enjoyed his memorable duels with Andre Agassi, which have produced some of the best tennis I ever watched. Rafter brought something different to a game dominated by power. His subtleties were a joy to watch. A great champion!!!
- Dave Bristol, UK

I believed he would come back, though I feared that would be a slim chance at the same time. I became a fan of him in 2000 at Wimbledon, since then I've been a devoted fan of him. I love his play, as well as his attitude to the media and fans. I'll never forget him saying "Sorry, mate!" and believe he'll be remembered as one of the tennis legends. Many thanks, Pat!!
- Hisayo, Japan

I have no words to say my sadness for Rafter's retirement. I am sure we all miss a great player as Rafter. He has been not only a fantastic tennis player but the best gentleman tennis player on and outside court.
Best Wishes, Enrico, Italy

I guess it was to be expected that Pat would retire, but I still hoped for a return. I know that this must have been a difficult decision, but I also know that he has made the right decision for himself and I respect him and his doings. I was just yesterday thinking about the wonderful experiences I had when I saw Pat play live at Davis Cup final 2000 and Wimbledon 2001. I will cherish those memories forever. Without Pat, I wouldn't have found the world of tennis and the many friends I have. So thank you mate and I hope to see you somewhere again.
- Elina Mäntylä, Finland

Pat will be missed not only by the ATP tour, but by the Australian public. He will be remembered as one of our favorite sportspersons of all time, in that he typified the Australian sporting ethos. May he run for president when Australia becomes a republic.
- Julian Holsman, Australia

Dear Pat!
Thank you for bringing us tennis fans so many great moments during your years as an active competitor. With your great serves and volleys you made every game enjoyable to watch. Although taking the US Open titles in '97 and '98 probably was the highlights of your great career, I personally remember the Wimbledon finals in 2000 and 2001 best. They were both some of the best finals ever played in Wimbledon and they would not have been the same without you! You will be missed! I am sure you will take care of the rest of your life just as well as you took care of your great career. Have in mind that we tennis fans always will remember you as a great player! I wish you all the best in the future!
Sincerely, Kristoffer Plocinski, Norway

Tribute to Rafter, easy; simply the best serve and volleyer ever to play the game.
- Peter Flynn, UK

I am sorry to see Patrick leave the circuit, he was an exciting player with his serve-and-volley style. He was the consummate competitor and a fine man while doing it. The Aussies have great champions in the order of Rod Laver, John Newcombe and Rafter. His opportunities are limitless, he couldn't have written a better script.
- Rick Wald

As I sit here crying, having just read the news that Patrick Rafter has officially retired, I just want to say that he was and will always remain my favorite player. He was truly one of the best. In my opinion he has done great things for the sport of tennis and he will be sorely missed by all of his fans who loved watching him play. It would be nice if he would consider being a commentator. (At least that way we could still see him). I am happy that he is satisfied with all of his accomplishments on and off court and I hope he continues to have a blessed life. I got to see Patrick play live in Cincinnati, OH, in 2001 for the final time. I had attended the tournament for two days early in the week and then followed the rest of the tournament on television. When he made it to the finals, I knew I had to make the trek to Cincinnati again. I will always be a fan of tennis but I will really miss watching Patrick play.
- Kathleen Karn, United States

Patrick Rafter is a unique person how will never be forgotten. He has meant a lot for modern tennis and will always for a lot of people be a shining star! Thanks, Pat!
- Alex Andersen

I just would like to thank Patrick Rafter for all the memorable moments he provided to tennis with his graceful serve and volley style. Once again thanks! And enjoy your retirement... because we´ll still be waiting for your comeback!
- Dalton Mitsutani, Brazil

The tennis world will be a lot worse off with the retirement of Pat Rafter. I, for one, will miss his swash-buckling-always-attacking-the-net approach to the game. Also the man himself will be greatly missed with the way he conducted himself on and off the court, represented his country and sport and gave his all to his charity work.
- Chris Lockwood, Scotland

Hello, Pat!
I've been watching you for several years. You are the best example of serve/volley player! I wish you all the best and hope you're gonna bring up your son in tennis world as well. I also have a son of 8 months old and my dream is to bring him up with highest interest to tennis. Who knows, perhaps our sons will be playing each others in some Grand Slam finals.
Regards, Andrey Bozhenko, Ukraine