Sampras blows off Rafter

From our wire services - news.com.au
04sep01

NEW YORK: Pat Rafter's grand slam career has come to its likely close with a thrilling four sets loss to Pete Sampras in the fourth round of the US Open championships.

Rafter clawed back after being swamped by a rampaging Sampras in the first two sets, taking the third set in a tiebreak and sending the match into a fourth.

But with neither player looking likely to give an inch, Sampras seized a rare opportunity by breaking the Australian's serve in the 10th game and taking out the match, 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-4.

Sixth seed Rafter had no answers to Sampras in the opening two sets, but lifted markedly to take the third set by winning the tiebreaker 7-5, courageously serving a second serve ace on his second set point.

Both players served strongly through the fourth set, but when Rafter, serving second, served at 4-5, two errors and a double fault suddenly gave Sampras two match points at 15-40.

A long forehand from Sampras wasted the first, and a strong first serve from Rafter saved the second, with the packed centre court crowd going wild.

But at deuce, Rafter set Sampras up for an easy smash to bring up another match point, and after a manic, heart-stopping eight-shot rally, another smash from the American finished the match.

With dual US Open champion Rafter to take a long break from tennis at the end of the year, which most expect to evolve into his retirement, the loss was likely to be his last grand slam match.

"It was a tough match," said a delighted Sampras, who will now play second seed Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals.

"He wasn't serving too well the first couple of sets. In the third he picked it up a little, and played a great breaker."

The match was billed as potentially one of the greatest fourth round grand slam tussles in history, with Rafter having to play Sampras unusually early since the American has slipped to a ranking of 10 through a lighter playing schedule.

It started out as anything but, after the 30-year-old Sampras brought out the game which has won him more grand slam singles titles than any other male - 13 - including seven at Wimbledon.

Sampras, who hasn't won a tournament since last year's Wimbledon, reeled off winners from all over the court.

But it was Rafter who began the stronger, taking a break point in the opening game before Sampras pounced to take a 3-1 lead in Rafter's second service game, which included two double faults.

A stunned Rafter had to battle hard to hold again at 2-5 - scrambling out of no less than six set points - but Sampras took the set with another powerful service game.

It was more of the same in the second set, Sampras taking his first break of serve for a 2-1 lead.

Sampras broke Rafter easily again on the next attempt, and the American conceded just 10 points on serve in the first two sets.

But the Queenslander improved his serve in the third set, and a tiebreaker was required.

A brilliant forehand pass from Rafter gave him two set points at 6-4.

He took it out with courage on the second one, a breathtaking second serve ace down the middle ending the tiebreak 7-5.

Rafter was unable to break Sampras' serve throughout the match, and had only two break point opportunities.

Rafter paid tribute to Sampras but said he would leave the tournament disappointed with his form today, particularly his unusually high number of volley errors.

"I was beaten by the better player on the day but I'm a little disappointed with a few areas of my game," said Rafter.

"It was good the way I worked my way back into the match, but disappointing the way it ended."

Rafter denied reports that he was troubled by a thigh strain, but said he had served tentatively in the first two sets for fear of hurting his problem shoulder.

"The first couple of sets I was just trying to hit my targets with my serve," he said. "Then the third set I just decided to go for it."

It showed as his first-serves-in percentage increased from 56 and 68 per cent in the first two sets, to 77 in the third, before falling away again to 65 in the fourth.

Rafter looks forward to exploring life beyond tennis

By Sandra Harwitt

NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (Reuters) - Now that Patrick Rafter's U.S. Open campaign has come to an end, the popular Australian found himself contemplating life on the outside.

"I've been thinking about it for a little while," said the 28-year-old Rafter after a 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 fourth-round loss to long-time rival Pete Sampras on Monday at the U.S. Open.

"There's new things I want to do. Just sort of live a life," said Rafter, who plans a lengthy break from the globetrotting ATP Tour after this year -- one from which he says he may not return.

"We live in an unreal world here. I just want to touch down a little bit. Maybe I might not like it. (I'll) wait and see."

Since Rafter sent word to Australian fans last January that the upcoming Australian Open could be his last appearance at that Grand Slam, his future plans have been somewhat up in the air.

All that Rafter is sure about is he will take six months off at the beginning of 2002 to see if he enjoys retirement.

Indeed, when Rafter was asked whether his loss to Sampras was his last match at a Grand Slam, the Australian replied with an inconclusive "I don't know."

Yet there is still a nagging feeling that there is a troubling gap on his Grand Slam resume.

"The unfinished business for me is Wimbledon for sure," said Rafter, still smarting from failing to win either of the Wimbledon finals he competed in, losing to Sampras in 2000 and to Goran Ivanisevic in a five-set thriller earlier this summer.

"But there's no guarantee I'll ever be there again," he said.

Always a humble individual, Rafter, who hails from the country town of Mount Isa in Queensland, is the first to sound amazed about what he has accomplished during his tennis career.

"You know tennis has been extraordinary for me," Rafter said. "I've really enjoyed it. I never expected to do what I've done.

"I feel like I've come away from this game -- if I do happen to leave and not come back -- and I've been really, really blessed to have a career that I've had."

After sending Rafter packing from what could turn out to be his last Grand Slam tournament, Sampras praised the brilliant career of the Australian.

"He's had a phenomenal career," Sampras said. "He's reached number one. He's won a couple majors. Certainly our matches have produced some very good tennis over the years.

"He'll be missed. He's one of the nicest guys we have on tour, a great player. I've got a lot of respect for his game, as a competitor. He's definitely one of the best players I've ever played over the years."

At the moment, Rafter looks towards winding down the year which he hopes will culminate in playing the Davis Cup final and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.

Rafter relinquishes US Open run

Pete Sampras advanced to a quarter-final match at the US Open against long-time rival Andre Agassi in New York with a 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 victory over Australian sixth seed Pat Rafter.

Sampras owns a 17-14 lead in the lifetime series between the American stars. But Agassi has won their past four meetings, including hardcourt finals earlier this year at Los Angeles and Indian Wells.

Sampras saved a break point in the opening game of the match and Rafter got his only other break point chance in the fourth game of the third set, which Sampras rescued with a forehand winner.

Sampras dominated the first two sets but could not solve Rafter in the third. In the tie-breaker, Sampras netted a backhand and Rafter hit a forehand winner to seize a 6-4 edge. Sampras aced to save one set point but Rafter fired a 103-mph second-serve ace to claim the set.

They stayed on serve until the final game, when Rafter double faulted to give Sampras his first two match point chances.

The Aussie star, who plans to take a lengthy break at year's end, saved the first when Sampras hit a forehand long and the second on a serve and forehand volley move.

But Sampras was able to pounce on a second-serve to set up an overhead lob to claim his last match point. He then hit a running forehand just inside the baseline to send Rafter scurrying off the court. Rafter made the return but only set up Sampras for a final overhead smash to end it after two hours and 32 minutes.

Sampras blows off Rafter
From our wire services
04sep01

NEW YORK: Pat Rafter's grand slam career has come to its likely close
with a thrilling four sets loss to Pete Sampras in the fourth round of
the US Open championships.

Rafter clawed back after being swamped by a rampaging Sampras in
the first two sets, taking the third set in a tiebreak and sending the
match into a fourth.

But with neither player looking likely to give an inch, Sampras seized a
rare opportunity by breaking the Australian's serve in the 10th game
and taking out the match, 6-3 6-2 6-7 6-4.

Sixth seed Rafter had no answers to Sampras in the opening two
sets, but lifted markedly to take the third set by winning the
tiebreaker 7-5, courageously serving a second serve ace on his
second set point.

Both players served strongly through the fourth set, but when Rafter,
serving second, served at 4-5, two errors and a double fault suddenly
gave Sampras two match points at 15-40.

A long forehand from Sampras wasted the first, and a strong first
serve from Rafter saved the second, with the packed centre court
crowd going wild.

But at deuce, Rafter set Sampras up for an easy smash to bring up
another match point, and after a manic, heart-stopping eight-shot
rally, another smash from the American finished the match.

With dual US Open champion Rafter to take a long break from tennis
at the end of the year, which most expect to evolve into his
retirement, the loss was likely to be his last grand slam match.

"It was a tough match," said a delighted Sampras, who will now play
second seed Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals.

"He wasn't serving too well the first couple of sets. In the third he
picked it up a little, and played a great breaker."

The match was billed as potentially one of the greatest fourth round
grand slam tussles in history, with Rafter having to play Sampras
unusually early since the American has slipped to a ranking of 10
through a lighter playing schedule.

It started out as anything but, after the 30-year-old Sampras
brought out the game which has won him more grand slam singles
titles than any other male - 13 - including seven at Wimbledon.

Sampras, who hasn't won a tournament since last year's Wimbledon,
reeled off winners from all over the court.

But it was Rafter who began the stronger, taking a break point in the
opening game before Sampras pounced to take a 3-1 lead in Rafter's
second service game, which included two double faults.

A stunned Rafter had to battle hard to hold again at 2-5 - scrambling
out of no less than six set points - but Sampras took the set with
another powerful service game.

It was more of the same in the second set, Sampras taking his first
break of serve for a 2-1 lead.

Sampras broke Rafter easily again on the next attempt, and the
American conceded just 10 points on serve in the first two sets.

But the Queenslander improved his serve in the third set, and a
tiebreaker was required.

A brilliant forehand pass from Rafter gave him two set points at 6-4.

He took it out with courage on the second one, a breathtaking
second serve ace down the middle ending the tiebreak 7-5.

Rafter was unable to break Sampras' serve throughout the match,
and had only two break point opportunities.

Rafter paid tribute to Sampras but said he would leave the
tournament disappointed with his form today, particularly his
unusually high number of volley errors.

"I was beaten by the better player on the day but I'm a little
disappointed with a few areas of my game," said Rafter.

"It was good the way I worked my way back into the match, but
disappointing the way it ended."

Rafter denied reports that he was troubled by a thigh strain, but said
he had served tentatively in the first two sets for fear of hurting his
problem shoulder.

"The first couple of sets I was just trying to hit my targets with my
serve," he said. "Then the third set I just decided to go for it."

It showed as his first-serves-in percentage increased from 56 and 68
per cent in the first two sets, to 77 in the third, before falling away
again to 65 in the fourth.

Rafter books Pistol duel
Pat Rafter will play Pete Sampras for a place in the US Open quarter-finals after both crushed their third round opponents at Flushing Meadows.

Sixth seeded Rafter had a fight on his hands early but in the end easily overcame Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-2 while the tenth seed Sampras rolled Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-2 6-2.

Two-time US Open champion Rafter trails four-time winner Sampras 11-4 in career meetings.

However, the last time they played at the Open, in a 1998 semi-final, Rafter won 6-7 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-3 although Sampras has beaten him the last three times they have met.

Their fourth round encounter is a match more suited to the end of the week than the halfway stage but Rafter frankly admitted: "You don't wanna meet Pete at all."

"It's rather unfortunate to play him in the fourth round, but that's just the way it is.

"I know he'll be out here trying to kill me, and I'll be trying to do that to him. It should be a great battle."

Sampras said his good record against Rafter counted for very little.

"There is no mental edge I feel like I have over Pat," Sampras said.

"Pat has beaten me a number of times. He's a very tough opponent with his volleys, the way he serves.

"It's going to be a very close match. Hopefully I can bring my A game and play well."

Sampras displayed his best form to date against Youzhny, using his powerful serve to great effect. He opened and closed the match with an ace and was never down a break point.

Andre Agassi also moved through to the round of 16 with a straight sets win over Ramon Delgado of Paraguay.

Agassi needed just under two hours to dispatch qualifier Delgado 7-5 7-6 6-3 and set up an intriguing encounter against rising Swiss star Roger Federer who knocked Sampras out in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Federer was a 6-4 7-5 7-6 winner over Sjeng Schalken.

Defending champion Marat Safin progressed with a 7-5 6-4 7-6 (7-5) over 28th seed Hicham Arazi of Morocco.

Safin will next face Sweden's Thomas Johansson, the 14th seed, who ousted Chile's Marcelo Rios 6-4 2-6 6-3 6-2.

It was a bad day for the British duo of Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

Belgium's Xavier Malisse upset the ninth seeded Henman in an epic encounter lasting almost four hours.

Henman's 68 unforced errors brought him undone against the Belgian who prevailed 6-3 6-7 7-5 6-4 4-6 in three hours and 47 minutes.

Malisse will meet Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina in the fourth round after he upset former US Open finalist Rusedski 6-7 6-6-4 7-5 7-6.

Rusedski fired 19 aces but also made 12 double faults and 43 unforced errors - 20 more than his opponent.

Rafter earns clash with Sampras

By PAUL MALONE at Flushing Meadows
03sep01
PAT Rafter is ready to become the target of a backlash from written-off Pete Sampras tomorrow when they meet for possibly the last time in a tennis major.

Rafter crafted a superb, controlled 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-2 defeat yesterday of a deflated Nicolas Lapentti, the 26th seed, in a third round match in windy Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sampras's impressive 6-3 6-2 6-2 dismissal of Russian Mikhail Youzhny also booked for tomorrow morning (Australian time) a long-awaited match which may be the last Grand Slam encounter of an eight-year rivalry in light of Rafter's possible retirement.

"People can write him off. Not me, I'm wary," said Rafter, who has won only four of his 15 career meetings with Sampras and none of the past three, including Wimbledon 2000.

"He was aggressive and served well. It's interesting to listen to the (US television) commentary. In the first set, it was about how old he was, how bad his backhand was.

"All of a sudden, he's the greatest player again and he had a great backhand. It was quite annoying. I know he'd be frustrated with it.

"You don't want to meet Pete at the worst of times. I know he'll be trying to kill me and I'll be trying to do the same to him."

Sampras thought the match might not be played at night, as widely anticipated, but in the day session to service network television coverage on a public holiday.

It would suit Rafter, who prefers the daytime conditions which add centimetres of lift to his kick serve, not to have to play Sampras at night, when the American has a 16-0 record at Flushing Meadows.

"It bloody better be. I'm sick of these night matches," Rafter said.

Sampras said: "I have no say here. Never have, never will."

As recently as three weeks ago, when discussing world No 1 Gustavo Kuerten, Rafter publicly rated Sampras's game as a greater threat to him above any other player.

"It's always flattering to hear what Pat says but there's no mental edge," Sampras said.

"It's going to be a very close match, like it always is. He's the hottest player coming into the Open. He beat me the last time we were on that court (1998 semi-final)."

The spectacle of watching Sampras, Rafter and Andre Agassi execute straight-sets third round wins with breathtaking skill cleansed the sporting palate of the distasteful Lleyton Hewitt affair.

Agassi converted all five of his break points in a 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 win over Paraguay's Ramon Delgado.

Had he been watching, Sampras would not have liked the fact that despite the adventurous nature of his game, Rafter made only 15 unforced errors against Lapentti.

"It's been a great year and I want to ride the wave as long as I can," said Rafter, who was broken in the third game of the match and also fell behind in the first set tiebreak.

Sampras said he had not worried for many years about media analysis of tennis, even when it came from triple Wimbledon champion John McEnroe on US television.

Defending champion Marat Safin and dangerous Swiss right-hander Roger Federer both won easily and seem sure to meet in the quarters.

Rafter to meet Sampras

From our wire services
02sep01

NEW YORK: Australian sixth seed Pat Rafter has continued his impressive march at the US Open tennis championships, crushing Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti in straight sets in the third round.

Rafter breezed past the 26th-ranked Ecuadorian 7-6 6-2 6-2, completing three straight sets wins in a row in the tournament.

The dual champion's draw now gets infinitely tougher, with Pete Sampras awaiting him in the fourth round.

Sampras, the 10th seed, may not be the force he once was, but still leads Rafter 11-4 in career meetings, and has beaten him the last three times they have met.

If Rafter can get past the grand slam titles record holder, he is expected to have to face second seed Andre Agassi in the quarter-finals, provided Agassi beats Switzerland's Roger Federer in the fourth round.

Asked if the fourth round was an early time to meet Sampras, Rafter frankly admitted: "You don't wanna meet Pete at all.

"It's rather unfortunate to play him in the fourth round, but that's just the way it is.

"I know he'll be out here trying to kill me, and I'll be trying to do that to him. It should be a great battle."

Rafter, Roddick Capture ATP Monthly Awards
Rafter and Roddick were recognised by the ATP for their outstanding efforts in August.

Patrick Rafter has been named as the ATP's Player of the Month for August after reaching four consecutive finals, winning the RCA Championships in Indianapolis and collecting 190 ATP Champions Race 2001 points. U.S. teen sensation Andy Roddick has been named the ATP's Rising Star of the Month after capturing his third title of the year in Washington.

Rafter, who reached his second consecutive Wimbledon final before losing a thrilling five-set final to Goran Ivanisevic, advanced to back-to-back finals at the Tennis Masters Series events in Montreal (l. to Pavel) and Cincinnati (l. to Kuerten) before claiming his first title of the year in Indianapolis.

The two-time US Open champion began his quest for a third title at Flushing Meadows in fourth position in the ATP Champions Race 2001, and is just 10 points behind Juan Carlos Ferrero in third.

"Thank you very much for the award," said Rafter, who has gone 21-3 since the start of Wimbledon going into the US Open. "I'm very, very pleased to have won it."

Roddick, who celebrates his 19th birthday today (August 30), also was in contention for the Player of the Month after earning 76 points and rising to 17th position in the ATP Champions Race following his victory at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington. Roddick defeated Sjeng Schalken to win his third title of the year (Atlanta, Houston) and his first on hard courts.

"It feels great to win the award," said Roddick. "It means you played some good tennis so I'm definitely thankful to win it."

Other candidates for Player of the Month honors were current Race leader and TMS Cincinnati champion Gustavo Kuerten, who earned 150 points, as well as TMS Montreal winner Andrei Pavel and Tommy Haas, the German who defeated Pete Sampras to win the Hamlet Cup in Long Island. Among those in the running for Rising Star of the Month honors included Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, who earned 42 points during the month and reached the quarterfinals at the TMS Cincinnati, Max Mirnyi who jumped 18 places to 53rd position, Spainís Alberto Martin and Argentina's Guillermo Canas.

The ATP Player of the Month and ATP Rising Star of the Month are announced at the end of each month to recognize players' outstanding accomplishments in the ATP Champions Race 2001.

Permanent vacation?
By Patrick Hruby
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

NEW YORK — This could be Patrick Rafter's final U.S. Open. Or not. Truth be told, Rafter isn't quite sure these days.

In fact, all the No. 6 seed and two-time former Open champion really knows is this: After a decade on tour, he's ready for a long vacation.

Maybe even a permanent one.

"I don't want to be around tennis for awhile," said Rafter, a 28-year-old Australian ranked No. 4 in the ATP Champions Race. "[I want] to see how much I miss it, if I do or not."

Rafter will get his chance soon enough. Following the Open and Davis Cup play this fall, he plans to take a six-month leave from the game — one in which he'll consider retirement.

"I really don't have a lot of idea what I'm going to do," Rafter said. "[I'll] probably head back to Bermuda [where Rafter keeps a home], chill out there for a while, see what I want to do."

In the meantime, Rafter, who defeated Christophe Rochus 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 last night in a second-round match, has set his sights on something only 11 players have ever accomplished: A trio of Open titles.

A winner in 1997 and 1998, Rafter is one of this year's leading contenders, despite a difficult draw that could have him facing Pete Sampras in the round of 16 and Andre Agassi in the semifinals.

The reason? Since declaring his intention to take time off back in January, Rafter has enjoyed one of his finest seasons.

At the Australian Open, Rafter reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champion Agassi. At Wimbledon, he notched a five-set, come-from-behind semifinal victory over Agassi, then lost to Goran Ivanisevic in a hotly contested final.

Rafter was equally good on the summer hardcourt circuit, reaching four consecutive finals and capturing a Masters Series title in Indianapolis. Overall, he's 45-13 this season — all while playing a trademark, hard-charging serve-and-volley style that's nearly extinct in the men's game.

"You just feel like he's all over the net," said Bob Bryan, a straight-set loser to Rafter in the Open's first round. "It's hard to pass the guy. He's really athletic. He's not missing those volleys."

The irony of Rafter walking away from the game while playing some of his best tennis isn't lost on Bryan, a 23-year-old American doubles specialist.

"[I'd] keep it flowing, man, keep the money coming in," Bryan said with a laugh. "I'm going to play this game as long as I can . . . I don't blame him [for taking a leave], though. He has to deal with a lot of stuff day-to-day."

All this year, Rafter has said he's simply sick of the tour's daily grind. And given his hard-earned rise to the top, it isn't difficult to see why.

The seventh of nine children, Rafter grew up poor on a farm in Mount Isa, a small Australian mining town. After turning pro in 1991, Rafter and his brother, Geoff, survived on the European circuit by sleeping in railway stations and eating bread and cheese.

In fact, it took Rafter three years to win his first title — at Manchester, England, in 1994 — and four more to shed his journeyman reputation by breaking through at the Open.

Along the way, he's battled knee, wrist and ankle injuries, as well as a chronically sore right shoulder that nearly forced him to quit the sport at the end of 1999.

Asked on Monday to discuss what he still loves about the game, Rafter gave a telling — if unsurprising — answer.

"That it's nearly finished," he said.

If Rafter decides to retire for good, he'll be widely missed on the tour, where his charitable bent, handsome visage and genial personality have made him a favorite of fans and fellow players alike.

Following his triumph at the 1997 Open, Rafter had to be talked out of donating his entire $930,000 winner's check to a favorite children's charity. Later that year, People Magazine dubbed him the world's sexiest athlete — a title Rafter's longtime girlfriend, Australian swimsuit model Lara Feltham, would likely endorse.

Prior to his match against Bryan, Rafter took the court early, sharing a typically self-depreciating joke with his young opponent.

"[Rafter's] like, 'I don't have a chance,' " Bryan said. "[And I said], 'I don't know about that, Pat.' . . . He's just a great guy. He's not the kind of guy that holds any grudges. Off the court, everybody likes him."

Rafter plans to start his vacation once Australia is finished with Davis Cup play. The Aussies play host to Sweden in a September semifinal; if they win, Rafter also will play in the final, which begins Nov. 26.

After that, Rafter intends to spend Christmas in Australia, then return to his home in Bermuda —the same place he went following his heartbreaking, five-set Wimbledon loss to Ivanisevic.

"I just went back and stayed with some really close friends," Rafter said. "I didn't want to hear people saying, 'Great Wimbledon, bad luck.'
"
And there were no real high bridges in Bermuda to jump off of," he added with a laugh.

Should Rafter return, it wouldn't be his first comeback following an extended absence from the tour. Rafter sat out three months after undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder in October 1999. During this year's spring clay-court season, Rafter took six weeks off — and looked none the worse at the All England Club.

"He's playing great," Bryan said. "I think he can go for a good five more years, as long as his body holds up."

Rafter isn't so sure. While players such as Agassi (age 31) and Ivanisevic (about to turn 30) are still going strong into their 30s, Rafter said he may not want to follow suit.

"It's everyone to themselves," he said. "They're obviously feeling good. I think everyone has their own threshold for it.

"I don't want to put myself anywhere near someone like [Bjorn] Borg, but at 26 the guy was tired of tennis. I think Mats [Wilander] also had a bit of a letdown as well. I think we all hit our point where we say, 'That's enough.' "


Nice guy Rafter reveals a touch of the larrikin

By MARK RILEY
NEW YORK
Friday 31 August 2001

It is the other question Pat Rafter seems to be getting asked a lot lately, alongside the one about retirement.

Just exactly what is it like to go through an entire sporting career being seen as "goodness personified"?

The answer is that it is tough when there is a healthy streak of the larrikin lurking beneath the skin, just itching to break out and cause a bit of mayhem.

"Listen, it's a matter of time before I stuff up," Rafter said after coming off the court from a second-round US Open victory on Wednesday night.

"It really is. I mean, I try to live as normally as I can. Sometimes, you know, you act like a bit of a hooligan. I've got that in my blood a little bit. I'm pretty sensible, but at times we all have our weak points."

Then he flashed the Rafter smile: "I just haven't been caught ... yet!"

Rafter will be glad if he isn't caught for at least another week-and-a-half as he continues his quest for a third, and presumably last, US Open title.

The start has been promising, two straight-set wins that haven't given him too much cause for alarm.

Belgian Christophe Rochus came out firing on Wednesday night, but Rafter was able to absorb the early barrage and then establish his dominance to win 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

Rochus broke Rafter's serve and held a 5-2 lead in the first set, before the two-time champion hit his straps and won five consecutive games to wrest back the ascendancy. "It was a bit of a scary time," Rafter said of his shaky start. "You get down a set, start panicking a bit, start pushing things around, go for a bit more. That's when things get dangerous."

Rafter knows how quickly that can happen, particularly at the US Open and particularly at night, when the cooler conditions rob him of the wicked kick on his second serve and negate much of the work he puts on his groundstrokes.

He was taken to five nail-biting sets by Hicham Arazi at night in the first round in 1999 and lost last year in the first round at night to lowly ranked Galo Blanco.

This year, he has asked to play more of his games in the day when the courts are more to his advantage. But the US evening prime-time TV schedule will have the final say on when he appears. Mr Goodness Personified is a strong drawcard in America, where sporting champions normally hover between the humorless and the self-obsessed.

His continued good form on the hard court is firming him as a tournament favorite, despite a brutal draw that could result in him playing Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin and Gustavo Kuerten in consecutive matches.

Rafter told the New York crowd in a courtside interview after the Rochus match that winning a third title here would be a dream come true. "But I am trying to take it one match at a time," he said. "My draw to get there is very, very tough, so I have to keep my mind on every match."

His next opponent is Nicholas Lapentti, who is ranked 26th. Rafter has beaten the Ecuadorian comfortably in their previous three meetings, but knows Lapentti's game is on a steadily improving curve. "He likes the conditions here - the ball flies," Rafter said. "He's got a lot of top-spin. He's pretty aggressive. He likes to come in, as well. I'm going to have to play well. I know that. If I don't, I'm going home."


Rafter Advances at U.S. Open
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:45 a.m. ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- If this is where Australian Patrick Rafter's Grand Slam tennis career ends, he's intent on making it memorable, mate.

Rafter, who plans on taking a break -- maybe temporary, maybe permanent -- from the grind of tournament tennis after this year, is through to the third round of the U.S. Open. Not easily. But that's the memorable part.

The two-time winner of America's premier tennis event advanced to the third round Wednesday night, defeating 5-foot-7 Christophe Rochus 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.

After needing a tiebreaker to finish off wild card Bob Bryan in the first round, the sixth-seeded Rafter fell into a 2-5 hole in the first set against Rochus before shifting into overdrive. He won 17 of the next 20 games to capture the match.

Memorable, indeed.

``I was trying to work out the game in the beginning,'' Rafter said. ``He was counter-punching very well. I knew I'd have my chances to break sooner or later.''

Down the road in his side of the draw are old pals like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. It's the prospects of matches like that and his five-set epic for the Wimbledon crown against Goran Ivanisevic that make Rafter crave a little rest and relaxation.

Ivanisevic, in his first Grand Slam match since beating Rafter at Wimbledon, sailed past Hugo Armando 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, while top-seeded Gustavo Kuerten, the French Open champion, outlasted Daniel Vacek 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Rafter arrived at the Open on a roll. He has reached four straight tournament finals, a streak that started at Wimbledon. The victory over Rochus -- Rafter called him ``that little fella,'' -- gave the Australian 32 victories on hard courts this summer, tops on the tour.

At the end of the year, Rafter will step away from tennis and see how he reacts. If he misses the game, he'll come back. If he does not, someone else can carry on.

Certainly, it seemed Ivanisevic was prepared to do that a year ago. He was a first-round loser in the Open a year ago, distracted and distressed, playing, he said, like someone on a tennis court for the first time.

That was then. This is now. Ivanisevic's spirit was restored by his Wimbledon win.

``Last year was disaster,'' he said. ``I came here, sit on this chair. I remember that, talking pretty sad things. But now is different. You can't go back. I'm playing good tennis. I don't want to go back.''

Ivanisevic had an in-and-out match against Armando. There were 22 aces on a serve that averaged 118 mph, but 27 unforced errors and nine double-faults.

``My rhythm was not there,'' he said. ``A lot of double-faults, a lot of mistakes with first serves. Three or four foot faults.''

And the bottom line was a win.

The same was true for Kuerten, No. 1 after winning his third French Open in five years. He had problems with Vacek.

``Better than last year,'' he said, remembering that, like Ivanisevic, he was a first-round casualty at the 2000 Open.

Against Vacek, Kuerten used a serve that topped out at 123 mph for 18 aces. But he converted just three of 14 break point opportunities, and 33 unforced errors complicated the task.

In Wednesday night's other featured match, No. 7 Monica Seles eliminated Eugenia Koulikovskaya 6-1, 6-4, finishing in just 47 minutes.

Seles, a two-time Open champion, adjusted to Koulikovskaya's unorthodox style of forehands from both sides.

``It's very different. I never played a person that hits one hands both sides,'' she said. ``Tonight was not a level I would want to be against a top player. Hopefully, I'll pull it together.''

The main thing for Seles is she is healthy. ``I feel great,'' she said. ``I'm happy I got to play in this Slam because I had to pull out of the French and Wimbledon.''

Other winners Wednesday included top-seeded Martina Hingis, third-seeded Lindsay Davenport, sixth-seeded Justine Henin, No. 10 Serena Williams, No. 12 Meghann Shaughnessy, No. 21 Elena Likhovtseva and No. 27 Angeles Montolio, who all advanced to the third round of the women's draw.

On the men's side, besides Ivanisevic and Kuerten, No. 17 Carlos Moya and No. 23 Dominik Hrbaty won first-round matches.

Treble chasing Rafter sprints through
By Bill Berkrot

NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Patrick Rafter dug himself out of a hole to bolt
into the third round as his quest for a third U.S. Open title in what may be
his last Grand Slam tournament gathered steam on Wednesday.

The sixth-seeded Australian looked to be in for a long night before kicking
his serve and volley game into high gear to produce a 7-5 6-2 6-1 victory
over speedy Belgian Christophe Rochus in one hour and 40 minutes.

The 5-foot-7-inch (1.70m) Rochus, who has a game reminiscent of Michael
Chang's, seemed to run down everything as he built a 5-2 first-set lead.

"In the beginning he was counter-punching very well and he was making me play
a lot of tough volleys," said Rafter who has suggested he may retire at the
end of the year.

"It was a bit of a scary time. He's a good little player. I didn't expect him
to return so well," added Rafter, saying it took him a while to adjust to the
night-time conditions.

Once he did adjust, it all went his way.

Rafter, a favourite of the fans, reeled off five straight games to capture
the first set, twice breaking when Rochus was serving for the set.

Rochus became little more than a practice partner after that as his opponent
won 12 of the 15 games played in the second and third sets.

The 1997 and 1998 champion was so dominant in the third that he lost just two
points on his own serve and converted all three of his break points.

"He couldn't find a way to hurt me after a while and I think it frustrated
him pretty badly," said Rafter who lost in the first round here the last two
years. 

Next up for Rafter is 26th seed Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, who claimed the
first third-round berth with 6-4 7-5 6-3 win over Davide Sanguinetti of
Italy.

The last two occasions Rafter went beyond the first round here, he ended up
winning the title. But he did not want to look beyond Lapentti in a draw that
could include clashes with Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi before the
semifinals.

"My road to get there is very, very difficult. I got a very tough draw but
I'm playing good tennis, I'm enjoy myself out here, so I'll just take it one
match at a time and see how it goes," he said.

Lleyton Hewitt is concerned about Davis Cup life without Pat Rafter and is hoping fellow Australian players will "step up".

The 20-year-old Hewitt has blossomed on the tour, and particularly in Davis Cup, with Rafter nearby as friend, mentor and fellow top 10 singles player.

Without him next year, Hewitt knows a lot more pressure will fall on his shoulders with few countrymen showing signs of rising high enough in the rankings to fill the gap.

"It's going to be tough," Hewitt said. "I don't know what the solution is really.

"You know, I'm going to go out there and give everything I've got in my Davis Cup matches just like I have in the past. It's not going to change the way I look at going out there and playing for my country.

"But obviously, when I go out there and I have a guy like Pat, who is so good under pressure, has played so many big matches, played well for Australia, that gives me a lot of confidence that we're two guys going out there in the top 10.

"That's a tough situation for the opponents to look at."

Hewitt will join Rafter to spearhead Australia in the Davis Cup semi-final against Sweden in Sydney next month and will be hoping to send Rafter into expected retirement with his name on the trophy for the first time in December.

And he said he hoped compatriots like 30-year-old Wayne Arthurs, 88th-ranked Andrew Ilie, and -- when he has recovered from his long-term knee injury -- Mark Philippoussis, would "step up to the plate" once Rafter had gone.

But when pressed on the issue of why more young Aussies hadn't followed him into the world's top 20, or even the top 100, particularly now that stalwarts like Jason Stoltenberg, Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge have either retired or faded, Hewitt expressed concern that too many were finding their comfort level in the still lucrative doubles scene.

"We have a lot more guys playing doubles than going out and playing singles.

"Whether it's easier to play doubles, only have to cover half the court or whatever, I'm not sure," he said, calling on Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald and coach Wally Masur to cultivate the talent.

"I think guys like Fitzy and Wally have to speak to those guys."

Hewitt still expressed a hope that some unspecified countrymen might "break through" later than expected. Rafter was 24 before he won the first of his two US Opens, while Wayne Arthurs was 28 before the first of his three grand slam fourth round appearances.

"Pat was a bit of a late bloomer. Maybe some of those (doubles) guys can come through and burst on the tour."

He added, however, that "we still need some younger guys coming up".

But, significantly, he could still not put a name to any prospects, including the teenagers who won Australia the World Youth Cup this year -- Todd Reid and Ryan Henry.

_________________________________________________
Rafter confident about future

From our wire services

28 August 01

News Interactive

NEW YORK: Pat Rafter insists there is no cause for panic over the apparent thinning in the ranks of quality Australian male players.
Rafter is one of only four Aussies in the men's singles draw at the US Open, a record low for Australians at an open-era grand slam, and a turn-out which has concerned some, including his coach Tony Roche.

The low representation is linked to retirements by players including Jason Stoltenberg and Mark Woodforde, and the age-related fade-outs from the singles scene of Todd Woodbridge and Richard Fromberg, among others.

Rafter is expected to also retire at the end of the year, and with Mark Philippoussis out with a long term knee injury, 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt appears as a lonely Aussie figure in future big time men's tennis.

Roche this week said it appeared the Australian boom expected after Rafter's US Open wins in 1997 and '98 was taking far longer to arrive than expected.

But Rafter said he was confident it would not be too long in coming, just as the emergence of himself, Hewitt and Philippoussis in the past decade had revived the country's fortunes.

The Queenslander said Australian tennis had gone through a difficult transitional spell through the mid-1990s.

"People were saying: 'Tennis has no one. Who is going to be the next one coming through?'," he said.

"Then all of a sudden you had three guys in the top 10. This has been really healthy for tennis in Australia.

"I think something will happen. I think there's too many good sportsmen in Australia for someone not to come through at some stage."

Australia has promising under-18 boys in Todd Reid, Ryan Henry, who are ranked in the top 40 and won their country the world team cup this year but Rafter said patience would be required before fans saw them reach their full potential.

"There's a little bit of promise there. It's a big step to make," he said
END
________________________________________________
Roche winces at low turnout

From our wire services

27 August 01

News Interactive

NEW YORK: The record low turnout of Australian men at the US Open is a disappointing sign that any Pat Rafter-inspired boom in the country will be a while longer in coming.
That is the opinion of Australian great Tony Roche, Rafter's coach, who winced when told only four Aussie men would be in the tournament - the smallest representation from the country in any grand slam event since the open era began 33 years ago.

Roche, like most with an interest in the game in Australia, expected his protege's 1997 US Open triumph to spark an upsurge in the number of youngsters in the country not only playing the game, but rising to the ATP Tour.

Instead, 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt remains a solitary figure as the future hope of Australian tennis, and will be more so when Rafter steps away from the game at the end of the year.

While 24-year-old Mark Philippoussis is only temporarily off the scene with a knee injury which keeps him from a fifth grand slam in succession, Australia's only other top 50-ranked player, Wayne Arthurs, is already 30.

And so far, no young stars have stepped up to fill the gaps left by the long expected retirements of Jason Stoltenberg and Mark Woodforde, and the age-related form declines of Todd Woodbridge and Richard Fromberg.

Roche said while officials in Australia were working on replenishing the country's stocks of talented young players, more patience would be required.

"When Pat won his first US Open," Roche said, "you would've hoped that would have helped motivate the kids in Australia and that some of them would have been coming through a bit quicker than they are.

"It's maybe just one of those things that we've got to wait a little longer than we would have hoped.

"I know they've got good programs in Australia and good people working in them."

Roche, a US Open finalist in 1969-70, said he was disappointed to see only four of his younger male compatriots in the tournament, which starts at Flushing Meadows tomorrow.

"Obviously it's down to a combination of things," he said.

"There are a lot of guys who've retired or maybe are a little past their best, like Richard Fromberg, the Woodies, and Jason Stoltenberg.

"You take those guys out of it, plus there's probably not as many young kids coming through as we would like, and that's why we've only got four guys in the draw."

Rafter breaks US Open first-round jinx
By Jim Slater

Australia's Patrick Rafter, who followed two US Open titles with first-round losses the past two years, snapped the skid by beating American wild card Bob Bryan 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 7-5.

Sixth seed Rafter won only 3-of-12 break points but hit 78 winners, 40 more than Bryan, to win in two hours and 11 minutes. He next plays Belgian Christophe Rochus, who beat Spain's Sergi Bruguera 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

"It does feel good to be actually in the tournament for a change," said Rafter. "I got through the match. It's pretty important to get into the tournament. The first round is always a bit of a tricky one."

A right shoulder injury led to Rafter's 1998 opening-round defeat in defence of his 1997 and 1998 US Open titles. Last year, Rafter dropped a fifth-set tie-breaker to Spain's Galo Blanco in his opener.

"To get out of it in straight sets was a relief," Rafter said. "It was very hot and humid. I was starting to get tired."

Women's play opened with world No. 1 Martina Hingis taking only 46 minutes to oust American Laura Granville 6-2, 6-0 and third seed Lindsay Davenport ousting Germany's Andrea Glass 6-2, 6-3 in 44 minutes.

Rafter said this could be his final Grand Slam event as he prepares to take an extended break from tennis.

"I don't really have a lot of idea what I'm going to do, just get away from tennis for a while is what I really want to do," Rafter said. "I don't want to be around tennis for a while and see how much I miss it, if I do or not."

Asked what he loved about tennis now, Rafter said, "That it's nearly finished," and cited past stars Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander who tired of total tennis.

"Everyone has their threshold," Rafter said. "I don't want to put myself anywhere near someone like Borg, but at 26 the guy was tired of tennis. Mats had a bit of a letdown as well. We all hit our point when we say it's enough."

If Rafter retires, the 28-year-old serve-and-volleyer is going out on a high note. He is 44-13 in 2001 and comes off three consecutive hardcourt finals runs, including a title two weeks ago at Indianapolis.

Rafter had lost six consecutive finals before winning at Indy when Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten retired, a streak going back to his Wimbledon loss to Pete Sampras last year.

"It was good to get a win," Rafter said. "Psychologically it's pretty important, however it happened. If I did lose the last five or six finals in a row coming in, and I did get into the final, psychologically, I couldn't imagine myself feeling great."

Rafter impressed in Grand Slams as well, taking eventual champion Andre Agassi to five sets in an Australian Open semi-final and losing his second Wimbledon final in a row, falling to Goran Ivanisevic in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 thriller.

Rafter said losing the Wimbledon final was much harder the second time around, but he is over it now.

"At the time I didn't want to see anyone," Rafter said. "I just went back to Bermuda, stayed with some really close friends. There were no real high bridges in Bermuda to jump off."

Despite a difficult draw, Rafter likes his chances here.

"In '97, '98, I came in with a lot of tennis and again here I've come in with a lot of tennis," Rafter said. "It's sort of like an omen going on. I'm just trying to ride the wave as long as I can."

But Rafter finds himself in a quarter of the draw that also includes Sampras, Agassi and rising Swiss star Roger Federer. And that's just to reach a semi-final.

"The draw is heavily stacked," Rafter said. "There are a lot of really good players to get through. I'm obviously not in the great section of the draw. It's going to be very, very tough."

Taciturn Rafter advances

By MARK RILEY
NEW YORK
Wednesday 29 August 2001

Pat Rafter's game looks about as good as it gets. He is serving well. His volleys are crisp.

He has slugged his way to four consecutive finals, including Wimbledon. And he has managed to get through the first round of the US Open for the first time since he last won the title in 1998.

But when asked on Monday what he liked about his game at the moment, Rafter could offer only the most jaundiced of replies: "That it's nearly finished." His game may be good, but Pat is flat.

It isn't so much the hard slog of continuous play that has left Rafter as flat as a New York flapjack, as it is the relentless analysis of his decision to take a break from the game.

He has been bombarded with questions about his maybe-permanent-maybe-not break at every tournament he has played since dropping the news before the Australian Open in January.

Rafter thought he was doing the right thing by letting his loyal Australian fans know it would be his last time at his home grand slam event. But now he is questioning the wisdom of giving so much notice. It has meant he has had to go through a full year of tennis fielding endless variations of the same question.

By the time he arrived in New York this week, he was completely fed up with retirement talk. At a very subdued post-match press conference on Monday, he returned all queries on the subject with answers as clipped as his trademark jabs at the net.

"Now that you're actually playing the last grand slam of the year ... is it hitting you more?" he was asked after defeating American Bob Bryan in their first-round encounter, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-5.

"No," Rafter replied.

"Is it just another Open to you, then?" "Yep."

"In your own mind, what is the likelihood this is your last grand slam?" "It could be." Then came the ultimate in superfluous questions: "Do you want to talk about your retirement?" The answer was admirably restrained: "No thanks, mate."

Rafter might share his reflections more fully when the tournament is over, but for now, he wants to keep his focus on each successive game.

He did not even know what his draw looked like beyond the Bryan match until being informed at his press conference. It might have been better if he didn't know at all. Rafter has found himself in the toughest quarter of any US Open in recent memory. If he gets past his second-round match against Belgian Christophe Rochus and a probable third-round encounter with Nicholas Lapentti of Ecuador, he would most likely have to beat Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin and Gustavo Kuerten in consecutive matches to take the title.

That is no easy road to retirement.

Rafter said he wasn't expecting any special favors as a two-time champion in New York.

He went out in the first round of the last two events - in 1999 through injury and last year in a humiliating five-set loss to lowly ranked Galo Blanco.

"I feel good here, but I think a tournament like Wimbledon gives you a better chance to get into the tournament because you feel like there aren't many guys that can win the tournament," he said.

"When you play a lot of guys, you feel you definitely have that edge on them, particularly on the grass. But not here. It is a good equaliser ... There can be upsets at any time. The guys are all too good these days."

Bob Bryan is one of the potentially good guys. He played a solid three-setter against Rafter, stretching him with strong groundstrokes and providing one of the best points in grand slam tennis this year by hitting three consecutive volleys from his knees in the one rally and somehow managing to win the point.

Rafter is getting used to seeing the unusual, the unlikely and even the unbelievable happen on the other side of the net. He saw enough of it in his demoralising five-set loss to Goran Ivanisevic in the Wimbledon final.

It took Rafter a little longer than usual to come to terms with that loss. He spent the next two weeks in virtual seclusion, sticking with his mates in Bermuda, playing a bit of golf, doing a bit of surfing and generally engaging in anything that took him away from tennis.

"I didn't really want to go out and see people," he said. "I didn't want to hear people saying, `Great Wimbledon. Bad luck'." But he was not so morose that he was about to throw himself off a high bridge. There aren't any high bridges in Bermuda, anyway, he said with a wry grin.

"I lost my chance for this year at Wimbledon," he said. "You know, it's just a matter of putting things in perspective. It's a tennis match. You're out there playing for a title. You put in your best effort, and it doesn't go your way. That's all you can do."

Whether, as many observers suspect, Rafter wants to have one more stab at Wimbledon after his exploratory mission into retirement remains to be seen. For now, he is concentrating on grinding his way through the early rounds of the US Open.

Compatriot Andrew Ilie joined Rafter in the second round by defeating Austrian Stefan Koubek in five sets on Monday night, 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Ilie played in typical fashion, pounding groundstrokes from the back court and playing to the crowd at every opportunity.

He will meet either Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands or Briton Martin Lee in his next match.

U.S. Open: Rafter craves a break -- from the inquisition
by Sandra Harwitt

Photo by Ron Angle
New York, Aug. 27 -- If Patrick Rafter comes around to regretting one moment in his tennis career, it is most likely going to be that he started 2001 by saying he was going to walk away from the game by 2002.

At the very least he promised himself a six month break, but Rafter was gentleman enough to tell his Aussie fans that January's Australian Open very well might be his last.

And now, as he plays the U.S. Open -- where he's been most successful -- the finality of this year's final major has lots of people concerned. Will it be his last U.S. Open?

It didn't take very long for Rafter, a two-time U.S. Open champion in 1997 and '98, to understand the error of his ways by taking the honorable route of revealing his tentative plans for semi-retirement. Each press conference since that day has seen him prodded about this pending sabbatical.

Will he stay away permanently or will he come back? What will he do to fill his free time? Is he having second thoughts about his decision to take a tennis break?

The same questions are posed at every press interview at every tournament after every match -- including today, following Rafter's 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 7-5 victory over American Bob Bryan in hot, humid conditions on opening day of the U.S. Open.

Question No. 1 - 'You've been talking about taking a break at the beginning of next year. Now that you're actually playing the last Grand Slam of the year, this phase of your career, is it hitting you more?'
Answer No. 1 - 'No, no.'
Question No. 2 - 'Is it just another Open to you then?'
Answer No. 2 - 'Yep.'
Question No. 3 - 'In your own mind, what is the likelihood this is your last Grand Slam?'
Answer No. 3 - 'It could be.'
Question No. 4 - 'That (it could be your last Grand Slam tournament) doesn't mean anything to you?'
Answer No. 4 - 'I'm not answering these questions.'

The translation here is that these queries have grown tiresome and annoying to always ingratiating Rafter, but that's what happens when you reveal too much information.

In the past weeks, Rafter has given some clue as to his agenda during his time off and it mostly calls for having very few plans past Christmas in Australia with the family, traveling to some Australian vacations spots with friends from Bermuda during the 2002 Australian Open in January, and then back to his full-time abode in Bermuda.

The constant inquiries reflect the collective astonishment among tennis pundits. Why would a player at the top of him game leave now?

Only several weeks have passed since Rafter reached his second consecutive Wimbledon final where he just fell short in five sets to Goran Ivanisevic. That's hardly a performance from a possible retiree.

Clearly, however, the Wimbledon loss was painful, especially since Rafter was considered the odds-on favorite to win the Wimbledon chalice this time around.

'There's not much you can do -- the match is over,' Rafter said of the Wimbledon loss. 'You've lost your chance. I lost my chance for this year at Wimbledon.

'You know, it's just a matter of putting things in perspective. It's a tennis match. You're out there playing for a title. You put in your best effort and it doesn't go your way. That's all you can do.'

That easy-going nature that has charmed fellow players and a global fan base now seems to be in short supply by the very industry that praised it. No one seems easy-going about the prospects of Rafter leaving the sport behind.

After Wimbledon failed to go his way, Rafter returned to Bermuda to lick his wounds and prepare for a summer hard court season that would deliver him to the finals of Montreal and Cincinnati and then bestow the Indianapolis title on him one week ago.

'There were no real high bridges in Bermuda to jump off of,' laughed Rafter, describing how he felt after Wimbledon. 'I sort of stayed with some really close friends. I didn't want to hear people, saying, 'Great Wimbledon, bad luck.' After a week, I went around, just sort of mixed back in Bermuda with all sorts of friends. But at the time I didn't want to see anyone.'

Although Rafter insists that he's likely not to miss the pro game, he doesn't seem to rule out playing Wimbledon 2002. He has said, 'I lost my chance for this year at Wimbledon' instead of 'I've lost my chance to ever win Wimbledon.'

Whether he does rejoin the tour as a player or not, Rafter intends to follow in the footsteps of former Australian greats such as John Newcombe and Tony Roche to build Australia's future players.

'At some stage in my career, I'll be putting back for the game, whether it's worldwide, but definitely back in Australia,' Rafter said. 'I think it's important. We're going through a tough time with Australian tennis with young guys and young girls coming through.

'There will be some stage that I'll try to help out and put in my 10 cents' worth.'

In other first-round matches at the U.S. Open on Monday, world No. 1 Martina Hingis opened this year's festivities with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Laura Granville of the U.S.; No. 3 Lindsay Davenport (left) scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Andrea Glass of Germany, No. 6 and recent Wimbledon finalist Justine Henin beat Marissa Irvin 6-3, 6-3, and former U.S. Open champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Petra Mandula of Hungary 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

In another men's match featuring a top seed, No. 9 Tim Henman struggled to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 3-6, 6-3 win over qualifier Jan Vacek.

Will Rafter go out on top at U.S. Open?
By STEVEN WINE
.c The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - At first glance Patrick Rafter appears in his prime, playing
with uncommon flair and grace that allows him to make tennis look easy, as he
often did Monday at the U.S. Open.

A small gray patch in his short black hair is the only evidence of the toll
nine years on the men's tour has taken. The 28-year-old Rafter is weary of
the grind and looking forward to a six-month break that might turn into
retirement.

The laid-back Australian was asked what he loves these days about tennis.

``That it's nearly finished,'' he responded.

But the No. 6-seeded Rafter hopes to keep playing during the next two weeks.
On the first day of perhaps his final Grand Slam tournament, the two-time
Open champion eliminated American Bob Bryan 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-5.

``He's playing great,'' Bryan said. ``He can go for a good five more years.''

That's not likely. Rafter announced in January that he would take a break -
perhaps permanently - at the end of 2001. His plan hasn't changed, even
though he was the runner-up to Goran Ivanisevic at Wimbledon and reached the
finals in three tournaments this month, winning at Indianapolis.

``I don't want to be around tennis for a while and see how much I miss it, if
I do or not,'' Rafter said.

While he began his bid for another Open title, four former women's champions
- Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
- moved into the second round.

The No. 1-seeded Hingis opened play on Arthur Ashe Stadium and routed
two-time NCAA champion Laura Granville 6-2, 6-0. No. 3 Davenport, playing on
the 10th anniversary of her U.S. Open debut, beat Andrea Glass 6-2, 6-3.

No. 7 Seles beat Nicole Pratt 6-1, 6-2. No. 20 Sanchez-Vicario had a much
tougher time, edging Petra Mandula 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5). Wimbledon runner-up
Justine Henin also advanced.

The stat of the day belonged to women whose first name is Tatiana: two lost,
one won.

Defending men's champion Marat Safin beat qualifier Sebastien De Chaunac 6-4,
6-2, 6-2.

Before late-afternoon rain interrupted play, sunny, steamy conditions with
temperatures in the mid-80s left two men unable to finish their match.
Nicolas Kiefer retired because of heat exhaustion, and Kenneth Carlsen quit
with cramps.

The weather was also a worry for Rafter, who risks dehydration in long
matches because he sweats profusely. He was happy to finish off Bryan in just
over two hours.

``To get out of it in straight sets was a relief,'' Rafter said. ``It was
very hot and humid. I was starting to get tired out there.''

The victory was Rafter's first at the U.S. Open since he won the 1998 final.
He retired during a first-round match in 1999 because of a shoulder injury,
then lost in the opening round last year to Galo Blanco.

Against Bryan, Rafter served and volleyed well and faced only two break
points. But ``the Wizard of Aus,'' as one fan's sign described him, lost the
point of the day.

A long rally ended with both players at the net. Bryan dived for three
consecutive shots and from his knees floated a volley over the head of
Rafter, who retreated and dumped a backhand into the net.

``Guys are telling me in the locker room that's maybe one of the top 10
points in U.S. Open history,'' Bryan said.

Rafter, cracking a smile, said: ``I've got him on his knees, literally, and I
played it back to him. That's not really smart when you think about it.''

Rafter hopes to play smarter as he moves through the toughest quarter of the
draw. He could face four-time champion Pete Sampras, two-time champ Andre
Agassi and Safin in consecutive matches en route to the final.

Still, Rafter might be the man to beat on the medium-fast Open hardcourt
surface, which perfectly suits his aggressive game. He's at his best when he
plays a lot, and he has played 18 matches in the past month.

His recent results are reminiscent of 1997 and 1998, when he won consecutive
Open titles.

``Things look good,'' he said. ``In '97 and '98, I came in with a lot of
tennis. Again here I've come in with a lot of tennis. It's sort of like an
omen. I'm just trying to ride the wave as long as I can.''

Win or lose, Rafter's ride will soon end - for a few months at least, and
perhaps for good. Agassi, 31, and Sampras, 30, keep plugging along, but
Rafter sounds eager to step aside for the next generation, which includes
Australian Lleyton Hewitt and 18-year-old American Andy Roddick.

``The young fellows are taking over, and it's great,'' Rafter said. ``It
happens in every sport. They're the new crop. They're the ones who are going
to carry tennis on to the next 10 years.''

Rafter wins 1st round

From our wire servcies

28 August 01

News Interactive

NEW YORK: Pat Rafter has taken a solid first step in his bid for US Open No.3, overcoming gritty American Bob Bryan in straight sets.

The Queenslander, seeded sixth in what is likely to be his last Grand Slam before retirement, had some trouble converting break points against the big serving Bryan, but ultimately prevailed 7-6 6-3 7-5.

And Newcastle's Rachel McQuillan sprang an early upset by knocking out 26th seed Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3 7-5.

Rafter, seeking to erase the memory of a first round exit here last year, will now have his first meeting with 79th-ranked Belgian Christophe Rochus in the second round.

Rafter was pleased not only to get through his first assignment in little more than two hours in searing heat and humidity at Flushing Meadows, but to also have been given a solid test by wildcard Bryan.

The 23-year-old, whose serve belies his ranking of 168, took the match up to Rafter from the first game on centre court.

With no breaks of serve in the first set, Rafter had to stretch to win it 7-3 in a tiebreak after left-hander Bryan had clawed back from 0-3 to 3-3.

Rafter's experience, and the serve-and-volley game that earned him his 1997-98 titles here, shone in the second set, which he tellingly ended with a second serve ace.

But Bryan, part of a tennis playing identical twins act with brother Mike, fought back in the third set.

With Rafter serving for the match at 5-4 and 30-30, having just broken the American, Bryan produced two superb winners to secure his first break against the Rafter serve, for 5-5.

However, this seemed to shake Rafter into action and, after comfortably holding serve, he broke Bryan to end the match.

Rafter, who will take a long break at the end of the year which most expect to mean retirement, said he was pleased to take the opportunities he had against Bryan.

"To get out of it in straight sets was a big relief. It was hot and humid out there," Rafter said.

"I hit a lot of balls out there and I got through the match. It's important to get yourself into a tournament and the first round is always tricky.

"I'm glad I got through it, served OK and volleyed well."

Rafter's path towards a third title, to match those from 1997-98, is expected to contain more than its fair share of potholes.

Pete Sampras is his likely fourth round opponent and Andre Agassi looms in the quarters.

I have gained in confidence
By PAUL MALONE in New York
25aug01
PAT Rafter will today trade the pleasant affluence of Long Island for the madhouse of New York City, convinced that he is bringing the best tennis of his life to knock on the door of an exclusive four-man Grand Slam club.

For the ninth and probably last time, Rafter will confront the noises and smells of New York and its bustling tennis centre at Flushing Meadows, which lays claim to the title of the best attended annual sporting event in the world, with 606,000 spectators drawn last year.

"It takes a lot of mental toughness and focus to win here ¨C the noise, the distractions, the smell of the hamburgers over the courts. For Pat to have won two US Opens says it all about that part of his game," Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said.

"I really think it's hard to go past Pat winning it again. Grand Slams are so hard to win. He's playing so well at the moment, it might even be possible for him to keep the momentum going and end up as the No. 1 at the end of the year.

"What he needs is some quick, easy matches in the middle of the tournament, which I remember he got in 1997, when he won his first Grand Slam.

"Wimbledon has come and gone. He'd have loved to win it, but every Grand Slam he wins adds to his status in the game. To win two Grand Slams is a hell of a career already."

If Rafter were to win his third US Open men's singles, he would join Jimmy Connors (five), John McEnroe and Pete Sampras (four) and Ivan Lendl (three) in an exclusive Open era club.

Rafter's coach Tony Roche, pleased with the clean contact Rafter has been making over the past two weeks, is happy to wait until his charge decides later this year whether to he will play at some stage in 2002. But most Australian pundits consider Rafter will open his last Grand Slam assault on Monday or Tuesday against American Bob Bryan, ranked No. 124 in the world.

Rafter said his probable last lap of world tennis locations had given him cause for fleeting sentiment only at certain big events, particularly Wimbledon and the US Open. "It hasn't changed the way I have approached any tournament this year," Rafter said. "I've had plenty of matches now. I've gained confidence, knowing I can do that through the US Open. I've developed this year even more than the other years."

Rafter asked for day matches in hot and humid Cincinnati three weeks ago to gauge his fitness in the most severe conditions since Melbourne university analysts devised a strategy to combat the cramping attacks which struck during the Davis Cup final last December and the Australian Open in January.

"It can get very hot and draining, but Pat needs to remember that he is still the fitter player in nine matches out of every 10 he plays," Australian Davis Cup coach Wally Masur said.
Long, hot summer spooks Rafter
By PAUL MALONE
26aug01

PAT Rafter yesterday revealed he was fighting pessimistic thoughts about how he will rebound from his draining American summer campaign at this week's US Open.

Rafter, in the countdown to what may be his last Grand Slam tournament, paid the price physically for his form in the gruelling hardcourt season, where he made two finals and won the third.

Rafter withdrew from his fourth scheduled event in Long Island to give his sore right arm every chance of recovery.

He hopes university analysts in Melbourne have solved the cramping problems, which cost him matches in the Davis Cup final and the Australian Open.

"Some days, it can just hit you, the amount of pressure you have been under and the amount of tennis you have played," Rafter said. "In a way, (I'm) a little bit pessimistic, but I do feel really good at the moment.

"I do think it's a good chance (to win). I've trying to do it as well as I can, but until the first day, you don't know how you handle the circumstances."

Rafter delighted coach Tony Roche with his touch and energy levels in his first practise yesterday at Flushing Meadows.

He hit for two hours in the heat of the day with Tasmanian David MacPherson in preparation for his first-round match against American Bob Bryan, 168th on the entry-system rankings.

Temperatures of about 30C, with steamy conditions, are forecast for the first two days of the Open, which starts early Tuesday (Australian time).

"Pat has had three really good lead-in tournaments and it's pretty similar to the years he won here," Roche said. "He couldn't be hitting the ball any better.

"It (the heat) hasn't affected him up until now, but this is five sets. I think when you look at the matches he played at Wimbledon, and it was pretty warm there when he played five sets against Agassi and Goran Ivanisevic, and there was no sign of the problem. Unless it gets really hot, but then everyone will be affected."

Rafter, seeded sixth, knows he will face another grilling this week from the world's media about his retirement plans.

Asked if another crack at Wimbledon could still cut his holiday from December from six months to four, Rafter said: "It's an outside possibility. But I have to be fit and wanting to come back."

Some observers would have been surprised to see Wimbledon final combatants Rafter and Ivanisevic chat amiably as the Australian vacated the practice court.

"It's a big occasion, Wimbledon, but you have to cop it on the chin and hold your head up high. That's what I've been able to do," Rafter said. "We've always been good mates."

Seeded by the draw to meet Pete Sampras in the fourth round and Agassi in the quarter-finals, Rafter said he heard "a few of the heavy seeds are in there, but that's all I want to know".

Roche said: "With the way men's tennis is today, you know it means seven tough matches. You are talking about a couple of guys (Sampras, Agassi) who are very experienced. But then, maybe they are a little past their best.

"There's no good looking too far. The main thing is to get through the first week without punishing yourself."

Rafter is now third favourite in the betting at $6.25, behind Gustavo Kuerten ($5) and Andre Agassi ($5.75).

Fourth seed Lleyton Hewitt is equal fourth in the betting ($11).


Pessimistic Pat
By PAUL MALONE in New York
26aug01
PAT Rafter yesterday revealed he was fighting pessimistic thoughts about how he will rebound from his draining American summer campaign at this week's US Open.

Rafter's admission came on top of his former critic John McEnroe also dismissing the Australian as a possibility to secure his third Open title which starts early Tuesday morning (AEST).

The Aussie hero has paid the price physically for his form in the gruelling hardcourt season, making two finals and winning the third.

But his right arm continues to ache despite withdrawing from last week's Long Island tournament.

"Some days, it can just hit you, the amount of pressure you have been under and the amount of tennis you have played," Rafter told The Sunday Telegraph yesterday.

"In a way, (I'm) a little bit pessimistic, but I do feel good at the moment. I do think it's a good chance (to win). I've been trying to do it as well as I can, but until the first day, you don't know how you handle the circumstances."

McEnroe, who dismissed Rafter as a "one Slam guy" before his second New York title in 1998, yesterday said he had favoured the Aussie to bag his third championship before the draw landed him in the same quarter as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

"He is playing well, but he's in an incredibly hard part of the draw. It's hard to beat three or four great guys in a row," McEnroe said.

"Rafter is slated to meet Pete in the round of 16 and then either Agassi or (Roger) Federer, who beat Sampras at Wimbledon.

"Any one of 10 guys can win, but if it's slower and with a higher bounce this year, I think it is from Agassi, Sampras or (Gustavo) Kuerten.

One person who believes in Rafter's ability is coach Tony Roche, who watched his charge go through his first practice session at Flushing Meadows yesterday.

Rafter hit for two hours in the heat of the day with Tasmanian David MacPherson in preparation for his first-round match against another left-hander, American Bob Bryan, who is 168th on the entry system rankings.

High temperatures and a possibility of storms are forecast for the first two days of the Open.

"Pat has had three really good lead-in tournaments and it's pretty similar to the years he won here. He couldn't be hitting the ball any better," Roche said.

"It (the heat) hasn't affected him up until now, but this is five sets. I think when you look at the matches at Wimbledon, and it was pretty warm there when he played five sets against Agassi and Goran Ivanisevic, there was no sign of the problem. "The thing for Pat in these five-set matches is to get a good percentage of serves, about 70 per cent, because he isn't over-using his arm then."

McEnroe also fears Sampras will find the schedule gruelling.

"Pete has won 13 Grand Slams and it's understandable he slipped a little after such an incredible feat," he said. "Now I see him making a real attempt to get fitter than he has been to win another one or two more slams. It's hard for him to win seven matches in a row now."

Rafter looks for a glorious way out

Richard Jago
Saturday August 25, 2001
The Guardian

"Cry for help when there's no here-Rafter . . . " wailed the Melbourne Age when the Australian's rickety shoulder was apparently falling to bits. That sentiment is being even more keenly felt now as Pat Rafter, arguably the most popular man on Tour, approaches what may be his final grand slam.

All year long, there has been will-he, won't-he speculation about his retirement, but it does seem certain that, if he is to capture a third US Open title, it must be within the next fortnight.

This week Rafter pulled out of the Long Island event to rest up for Flushing Meadows, citing "extreme fatigue". There is no chance of his playing the next two grand slams, leaving the door ajar for one last effort to reverse the defeats in the past two Wimbledon finals.

Rafter's feelings about the ATP Tour's debilitating demands were expressed in one bitter-sweet moment two weeks ago in Cincinnati. "The better you're doing the more commitments you have and the nicer you have to be," he said. "And that's not natural for me. I'm such a fake. I just want to be an asshole. Looking forward to it," he added, grinning.

It amused and puzzled in equal measure.What Rafter meant is that during a six-month break in the first half of 2002 he hopes he does not miss the game. And if he does not, he will not come back.

The reasons are clear. Last December he suffered cramps in the Davis Cup final, forcing him to retire, and they struck again in the Australian Open just when he had the better of Andre Agassi, who went on to win the title. Rafter then separated from his trainer Mark Waters, saying he did not want to train any more.

A recent run of three defeats in finals brought an admission that his mental approach was not right. The continual serve-volleying and plunging around at the net has taken its toll. And he knows that there is a limited number of deliveries left in that shoulder.

If the week off has refreshed Rafter, he will still be one of the front-runners for the US Open. Even so, only the prospect of winning the next Davis Cup final, in Sydney in December, has kept Rafter going.

It is not surprising people wonder how to replace him. The simple answer is, they cannot. The only consistent exponent of a style that is almost extinct, Rafter's capacity to be both a woman's man and a man's man gives him unique charisma.

A magazine once voted him "one of the world's sexiest men"; the ATP extolled him for donating $300,000 (£210,000) to Brisbane Children's Hospital; fellow players applauded him as the tour's most sporting opponent. And those repelled by the egotism and materialism in tennis are relieved to hear Rafter disclaim the trappings of success - including these days, it seems, the women.

"Fame won't affect me," he says. "I made that mistake once and when I got home my brothers soon put me right. They say you have to be big-headed to play tennis and it isn't true. The difference between golfers and tennis players is that when they become successful, golfers are more mature."

No doubt Rafter's feet were also kept firmly on the ground by his father Jim, named yesterday as Australia's Father of the Year in recognition for raising nine children with his wife of 40 years, Jocelyn, on their family farm at Mount Ida.

One of Rafter's deepest wishes is to remain "the same old sack of crap that I am". After a second US Open triumph two years ago, he announced: "If I win this and I am not myself and become a jerk, I would rather not have it."
Rafter set for last hurrah at U.S. Open
By Bill Berkrot

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If Patrick Rafter is serious about walking away from tennis, the most fitting end to his Grand Slam career would see him lifting the U.S. Open trophy on the court he helped christen as its first men's champion.

And the dashing Australian serve and volleyer has positioned himself to make a run at his third U.S. Open crown by posting the most consistent results on the ATP Tour over the summer hardcourt season.

"Once you're on a roll, it's sometimes hard to stop," said Rafter, who has said he will take a break after this year to see if he prefers life as a beach bum to the globe-trotting grind of the tennis tour.

After a devastatingly disappointing runner-up finish at Wimbledon for the second straight year, Rafter suffered no letdown in the transition from grass.

In rapid succession he reached finals in Montreal, Cincinnati and Indianapolis before pulling out of the Hamlet Cup this week to rest up for the Open.

"Heading into the summer I never thought I would have played in three straight finals," Rafter said.

In 1997, Rafter also reached a handful of finals before turning up at sparkling new Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he proceeded to win the hearts of fans and his first Grand Slam title. He successfully defended his crown in 1998.

FIRST TITLE

Rafter finally picked up his first title of this year at Indianapolis last week when world number one Gustavo Kuerten retired in the first set of their final with sore ribs.

One of the game's true sportsmen, Rafter was almost sheepish in accepting the trophy under the circumstances.

"You never want to win in this fashion," he said. "It's not like you fought hard and played great, that's a lot more satisfying."

Rafter will get his chance to fight hard beginning next week after landing in the same quarter of the draw with second seed Andre Agassi and four-time champion Pete Sampras.

Australian Open champion Agassi has had a less consistent summer with two first-round losses sandwiched between a title in Los Angeles and a semifinal defeat in Washington.

But like Rafter, Agassi is not intimidated by the surroundings at the most gruelling of the four majors and comes to New York ready to capture a third U.S. Open crown.

"The Open always presents different elements and, certainly, the ones that I'm more comfortable with," he said.

"I feel very good about my game and the work I put in and I just hope everything comes together at the Open," he said.

"I think to win the Open you need a little bit of momentum and a little luck as well," added the 1994 and 1999 champion.

The 31-year-old Agassi has no plans to retire any time soon, but this could be the last Grand Slam to which he is able to give his single-minded focus before 3:00 a.m. feedings start to intrude on his intensive training regimen.

"I'm not a dad yet so I don't know what it's going to be like," said Agassi, whose fiancee Steffi Graf is expecting their first child in December. "I can only imagine that a lot of things will change in my life."

SAMPRAS TURNAROUND?

While Agassi and Rafter come into the year's final Grand Slam brimming with confidence, Sampras is struggling to recapture his shattered aura of invincibility.

"He's not been at his best, but I sit with the rest of the world and watch with interest to see how he's going to respond," Agassi said of his rival.

"There's no reason to panic with the way things have gone this year," insisted Sampras, in search of his first title of any kind since last year's Wimbledon.

"It has been a kind of disappointing year, but I know I can turn that around very quickly," he said. "I just hope I can peak for the Open."

Also looking for a dramatic turnaround is Russian Marat Safin, who was on top of the tennis world after steamrolling Sampras in last year's Open final to cap a year in which he claimed a Tour-best seven titles.

Beset by injury and inconsistency, Safin is hoping a return to the scene of his greatest triumph will provide a shot of much-needed confidence after going winless this year.

"It's going to be great coming back. I'm coming there a winner," said the strapping Russian.

"I still believe I can make some big results there," he said. "If I get a few rounds, I feel I can be dangerous in the second week."

Triple French Open champion Kuerten is also ready to make some noise in the second week, having shed his reputation as a clay court specialist with an impressive hardcourt season.

The Brazilian has never been past the quarters at the Open, but no one is taking the top seed lightly, including himself.

"Maybe I don't have the experience of playing a semifinal or a final there in New York, but I think I'm already at the level to compete at the same level as the top guys," said Kuerten, who won in Cincinnati this month and reached the final at Indianapolis and semifinals in Los Angeles.

"In the past, I guess it was fair not to call him a favourite," Rafter said of Kuerten. "But right now, I think you have to look very closely at how dangerous Guga (Kuerten's nickname) can be there."

U.S. Davis Cup captain and television analyst Patrick McEnroe agreed with Rafter.

"He has played well really all summer and in my mind elevated himself from a contender to a favourite."

Rest is all Rafter needs
By PAUL MALONE in New York
23aug01

PAT Rafter stands "no risk at all" of becoming the latest name player to fall victim in America's tennis summer of pain, his brother and manager Steve said yesterday.

Rafter will leave his US Open preparation idling in neutral for much of a restful final week after withdrawing from this week's Long Island tournament, citing "extreme muscle fatigue" in his right arm.
Organisers of the last grand slam of the year, which starts in New York on Monday, will not want the popular Australian joining a lengthening list of withdrawals which includes Mark Philippoussis (knee), Mary Pierce (back), Magnus Norman (hip) and Anna Kournikova (foot).

US Open women's third seed Lindsay Davenport yesterday nervously road-tested a wrist injury which forced her absence from the WTA event in Toronto last week.

And the explosive American Jan-Michael Gambill entered the list of fitness queries when he retired from his first-round match at Long Island with a rotator cuff injury to his right shoulder.

Rafter, who has scheduled rest breaks this year to safeguard against wear-and-tear injuries, admits he has been caught by surprise by a workload of 17 matches in his three high-quality weeks on the draining North American circuit.

"He's using the week to give his arm as much rest as possible," Steve Rafter said.

"He has played a lot recently and thinks it's time to freshen up.

"He'd practise later in the week, but mostly he will be chilling out, maybe playing a little golf.

"If he had kept playing, it could have increased the risk of it breaking down."

Steve Rafter said his brother would go into the US Open full of confidence for the first time in three years.

"It's the first time in three years Pat will have gone into a US Open without the shoulder injury and we hope it's going to be a big tournament for him again," he said.

"He'll be fine next week."

Rafter's serving performance in Indianapolis this week, in which he won the final after Gustavo Kuerten retired hurt while trailing 4-2 in the first set, pointed to the dual US Open champion setting the record straight in 2001, after first-round exits in his past two visits to Flushing Meadows.

Seeded sixth for what shapes as possibly his last grand slam, Rafter lost one service game in five matches in Indianapolis and saved a total of 45 break points.

However the Australian's strong hardcourt circuit form has not won over international sports punters.

Rafter is an 8-1 joint third favourite with Kuerten on the books of British betting giants Ladbrokes, behind Americans Andre Agassi (7-2) and Pete Sampras (7-1).

Lleyton Hewitt, who lost to Sampras in the US Open semi-finals last year, has struggled during the US hardcourt season this year and is at 9-1.

Kuerten, another under an injury cloud, said he expected to be on deck in New York.

Sweden's Thomas Enqvist, who finished 1999 ranked fourth in the world, said he was 100 per cent fit after undergoing foot and shoulder surgery in December.

Old foes in Rafter's way
By PAUL MALONE in New York
24aug01

A DEFIANT Pete Sampras took one look at the names of Pat Rafter and Andre Agassi in his quarter of the US Open draw yesterday and told himself: "I have to remember who I am."

Sampras, Wimbledon's dethroned king, paid the penalty for his 14-month title drought when his lowest grand slam seeding in 11 years ¨C No. 10 ¨C gave him a possible fourth-round showdown against Rafter in the tournament that starts on Monday night. The winner would be favoured to meet Open favourite Agassi in the quarter-finals.

"Andre and Pat are certainly two of the favourites and you need luck to win a slam, but with all the great players today, you have to beat them all," Sampras said.

"I take care of my business and have a pretty good shot. Wimbledon was a big disappointment for me, but I have to remember who I am and be the type of player that I am.

"It's a while since I've won, but when the slams come around, it's when it's time to shine."

It's a hard road for sixth seed Rafter if he is to win his third US Open in what could be his last grand slam. Matches against Agassi and seven-time Wimbledon champion Sampras have brought the Australian some of his giddiest highs and most devastating lows.

But Rafter was unaware of his fate as he emerged from two days of relaxation on a golf course and a beach to have a light hitting practice yesterday.

"Pat knows he plays (American world No. 124) Bob Bryan in the first round. He doesn't look past who he has to play first, so don't tell him," his brother Peter said.

Peter Rafter, who has travelled with his brother as off-court organiser since Pat's 1997 US Open breakthrough, said there had so far been no sense of this New York visit being different or more significant.

"Just the fact it's a grand slam fires him up. He's hitting the ball so well. It's as good a preparation as he's had for a grand slam," he said.

After needing a third-set tiebreak the previous night to see off Belgian Olivier Rochus, Sampras considered he had found some pre-Open touch yesterday with a 6-3 6-2 defeat of Austrian Alexander Peya to make the Hamlet Cup quarter-finals in Long Island.

Sampras practised twice at Flushing Meadows this week and the good news for Rafter's chances is he will find centre court plays as fast as ever.

"It's definitely faster (than the previous centre court), which is where I won my three US Opens," Sampras said.

"Balls and courts change the tournament. Look at what happened to Goran (Ivanisevic) at Wimbledon. Put him at the US Open and I don't think he's going to do as well."

Tennis world should respect Rafter's wishes


His eyes have lost their sparkle. An on-court demeanor that was once
refreshingly cheerful now has a harder edge.
Something's changed inside Patrick
Rafter.
Observing the body language of the 28-year-old Australian this northern summer, you'd never guess that he was one of the top players on the ATP
Tour, reaching four straight finals.

Wearing a frown along with his new, severe hairstyle, Rafter looks more
like a colorless, eastern European journeyman than the flamboyant, pony-tailed gladiator who wooed the crowds on the way to winning two U.S. Opens.

Tennis has clearly become a chore for the man who, for so long, brightened up the sport with his energy and enthusiasm. Even though the
wins keep coming, it looks as though he's having to drag himself onto the
court at times.

Rafter is right to take an extended break at the end of 2001 that may lead to retirement.

Clearly, after a decade on the circuit, the Davis Cup devotee is yearning for a true taste of life away from tennis.

I just hope that tennis fans, the Australian public and the media respect his wishes.

Already, the low-key Rafter is regretting his announcement in January that this season could be his last. Within a couple of months, he quickly tired of answering questions about his possible retirement, which just added to the grind of practicing and traveling.

Rafter's losing streak in finals has exacerbated his frustration. He dropped
three straight in July and August as Goran Ivanisevic, Andrei Pavel and Gustavo Kuerten all came out on top.

At least he broke through in Indianapolis with his first title in 14 months,even if it was in rather hollow style, with Kuerten retiring injured in the
opening set of the championship match.

There's certainly nothing wrong with the way Rafter's been performing,even if he isn't perhaps quite the same player who won his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows four years ago.

His shoulder and other injuries mean a body that isn't as durable as it once was. With such a demanding, serve-and-volley style, he's also vulnerable to cramping in long matches. And a slightly suspect forehand means that
he'll never be able to match it from the baseline with the likes of Andre Agassi and Marat Safin.
But his serve continues to baffle opponents on fast surfaces and get himthrough tight matches. And, if anything, his net-game has improved,especially those exquisite drop-volleys.
Rafter's career has followed a curious path. He was by no means one of Australia's best young players, yet surprised everyone by winning two U.S.Open titles by the age of 25.

And then, as a seasoned pro, when he seemed to have the inside running to pick up a couple of Wimbledon titles, he didn't come through. In the 2000 final, Rafter was up a set and 4-1 in the second-set tiebreak (with two serves to come) against a clearly rattled Pete Sampras and then was
favorite to beat veteran wild card Ivanisevic at the All England Club this year.
Rafter admitted that his latest Wimbledon defeat hit hard. He reportedly went home to Bermuda and just moped around for a few days, not wanting to speak to anyone.

Perhaps that disappointment still lingers during his current campaign on the hardcourts of North America.

The odds are stacked heavily against Rafter collecting a third U.S. Open title in New York this year.

After being blessed with relatively easy draws at the 2000 and 2001 Wimbledon tournaments, Rafter has a horror road ahead at Flushing
Meadows.

He's seeded to play 13-time Grand Slam winner Sampras in the fourth round, Agassi in the quarters and Safin in the semis. And if he gets that far,
Kuerten is the player expected to be waiting in the final.
That's not good news for the man who's lost in the First round of the last two Opens (to Cedric Pioline and Galo Blanco ).

Still, Rafter thrives on a challenge, and challenges don't get much greater
than the one awaiting him.
And, who knows, if Patrick can somehow find a way to lift his battered body and psyche for one last victorious Slam, the tennis world might even allow him to retire in peace.

Heavy workload forces Rafter to tone down US preparations

COMMACK, New York, Aug 20 AAP-AFP - Patrick Rafter has given himself seven days to fresh up before seeking a third US Open title in his likely grand slam farewell.

Rafter today withdrew from the Hamlet Cup, the final lead-up event to the Open, citing “extreme muscle fatigue” in his right arm after reaching tournament finals in three succesive weeks on the US hardcourts.

The Australian won the Hamlet Cup - and preceding Canadian and Cincinnati events - in 1998 en route to his second US Open title.

But at age 28 the workload this time has taken too heavy a toll and he needed rest.

“Heading into the summer I never thought I would have played in three straight finals,” said Rafter, who broke a streak of runner-up finishes on Sunday when Gustavo Kuerten retired with a rib injury at Indianapolis.

“The heat and the conditions have really taken a toll on me physically. I'm really disappointed about not playing Long Island.

Rafter will head to New York as the sixth seed after Sunday's triumph followed losing finals appearances in Masters Series events in Montreal and Cincinnati, and at Wimbledon last month.

The one-time world No.1 also freshened up after Wimbledon and his latest rest is another sign that Rafter's body is starting to agree with his mind that his career needs to come to an end.

Rafter plans to take an extended break from tennis at the end of the year and today reaffirmed his position that he may not come back.

“I don't think guys take their breaks enough,” he said. “That's why I want to take six months off, see how much I really do miss the game.

“I think that's the question - will I miss the competition and will I miss that feeling of getting into tough situations and feeling the rush.

“But I really hope that I can find something else in my life that can give me a really good fulfillment and enjoyment.

“I'd really love to walk away ... I really would. But if this is where I'm supposed to be, this is where I'm supposed to be.”

While Rafter admired Pete Sampras for still wanting to travel the globe and be in the title hunt, the Australian himself said “I'm sick of doing it” and was adamant that he hopes “I don't miss it”.

“I guess it's all the constant playing, constant pressure, and all those sorts of things,” Rafter said.

“I just want to see if I can do without them.

“Sometimes you just don't want to show up on the court and some days you don't want to be there, and sometimes you don't want to perform.”

“I really enjoy golf and going to the beach.”