Waugh salutes Rafter's effort

From our wire services

10 July 01

News Interactive

LONDON: Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh congratulated compatriot Pat Rafter on a "great effort" in the Wimbledon final. Waugh and his Australian team-mates went to Centre Court - to a huge ovation from the mostly Aussie crowd - after finishing their Test match against England one day early on Sunday.

The veteran skipper said he and his team-mates had been almost as nervous as they would have been in a tight cricket situation, but said they would never forget their experience.

"It was a great effort by Pat," Waugh said after Rafter's five-sets loss to Croatian Goran Ivanisevic.

"It was a great match. We really enjoyed it as a spectacle and a sporting event, but obviously we're disappointed Rafter lost.

"It was pretty nervewracking watching it. I got nervous for both players. I knew how much they both really wanted it.

"But I think the result was probably the right one. Goran was probably fractionally better, but it was just a great spectacle. We were really happy to be here."

' Aside from the support of Waugh's men, Rafter had support before the match in the form of faxes from Prime Minister John Howard, the Australian rugby union and league teams and Kieren Perkins.

"There were numerous other faxes that came through from all sorts of people," Rafter's brother and manager Peter said.

Rafter's Davis Cup team-mate Lleyton Hewitt had to leave Wimbledon on Sunday after watching girlfriend Kim Clijsters lose in the women's doubles final, but Peter Rafter said he had sent a good luck text message by mobile phone.

END

Roche can't shake that jinx

>From our wire services

10 July 01

News Interactive

LONDON: Perhaps the only person more disappointed than Pat Rafter at the end of his five-set loss to Goran Ivanisevic in the Wimbledon final was his coach Tony Roche. After all, while it was Rafter's second loss in the final at the Grand Slam tournament, it was Roche's sixth - five as coach and one as a player.

Roche first made Centre Court for the final in 1968, when he lost in straight sets to fellow Australian Rod Laver.

It was another 15 years before he was back, this time coaching New Zealander Chris Lewis, who was outclassed in the final against John McEnroe.

In 1986 and 1987, he coached Ivan Lendl to the final, only to see the Czech lose to Boris Becker in the first year and to Pat Cash, the last Australian man to win, in the second. A

nd now, for two years in a row, he has coached Rafter to the verge of history.

In a moment that brought tears to the eyes of many spectators, Rafter choked up while thanking his coach. And when the television cameras swung around to Roche watching from the stands, the coach's eyes were also watering.

"I would have loved to have done it for Rochey as well today," Rafter said later.

"That part sort of hurts for me as well, because I consider Rochey and I a bit of a 50-50 combination. And he's a great mate. I would have loved to have done it for him as well."

Roche, still clearly disappointed an hour after the match, brushed aside questions about his own hurt, saying simply that it was a pity someone had to lose a match between two great champions.

"He played his heart out," Roche said.

"I just feel bad for Pat. He's such a great player and both those guys deserved to win."

Mum: Pat won't look back

>From our wire services

10 July 01

News Interactive

A DISAPPOINTED Rafter family last night warned that Pat would move on from his gruelling Wimbledon loss to Goran Ivanisevic. Despite playing some of his best tennis, Rafter lost to Ivanisevic in a thrilling five setter, 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7, his second straight Wimbledon final defeat.

Mother Jocelyn, father Jim and sister Louise put on a brave face for the media, who had been camped at their doorstep since the early afternoon.

Mrs Rafter said it was one of the hardest matches she had to watch.

"It was just so tight and I think he looked a little tentative out there but I could be wrong," she said.

"Goran played fantastic tennis and I suppose if he had to lose to anybody I would be pleased that it was to Goran because he's been there so many times and he's such a nice guy."

The family said Pat's loss would inspire him to do better.

"He'll get himself together again. Pat's not a person to look backwards," Mrs Rafter said.

Mr Rafter said he could not be any prouder of his son.

"Apart from Pat himself no one would be more disappointed than what we are but having said that nobody is prouder of him than we are," he said.

"We know he's a good tennis player but every time I see him lose something that he has his heart so set on, I'm so proud of him the way he handles it."

END 

Rafter heartbreak

>From our wire services

10 July 01

News Interactive

LONDON: Pat Rafter suffered the heartbreak of losing a second successive Wimbledon final here overnight, succumbing to Croatian Goran Ivanisevic 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7 in a thrilling final which lasted a minute over three hours. Rafter said he was more disappointed than when he lost last year but was far from shattered after taking part in one of the great finals.

Rafter lost in his first final last year to the great Pete Sampras, suffering a confessed "choke" when on the verge of a two-sets-to-love lead. There was no repeat collapse this time.

Instead the match came down to how well Ivanisevic could serve on the big occasions.

But perhaps because he was third seed against a man who, though possessing a lethal serve, had slipped to 125 in the rankings, Rafter said it was more painful this time around.

"This time hurts a little bit more than last time, that's for sure," Rafter said.

"I guess because the first time was just fun to be there. The second time around, I didn't want second. I wanted to win this time."

Rafter, playing in probably his last Wimbledon before retirement, took some comfort from the fact he had not thrown the match away.

"Like last year, this time I was really close again, but it was really taken out of my hands this time. He served very well when he had to," he said.

Ivanisevic, a loser in three finals here before, took the hard road to winning on his fourth go, double faulting on two match points and watching Rafter save a third.

The 29-year-old left-hander finally closed it out on the fourth try when Rafter put a forehand return into the net, making Ivanisevic the first wildcard to win a Grand Slam.

Still Rafter left Centre Court pleased to have at least taken part in one of the most memorable days in its history.

Since the final was postponed by a day due to rain and tickets were sold this morning, the stands were packed with mostly young Australian fans, who, with their outnumbered Croatian counterparts, provided an atmosphere more akin to a football match.

The players did not disappoint them.

"It was a good final, an amazing, amazing atmosphere, and it was a lot of fun," Rafter said. "This is what we play tennis for."

Ivanisevic was ecstatic to have finally broken through after losing finals in 1992 to Andre Agassi, and in '94 and '98 to Pete Sampras.

"I think I'm dreaming," the 29-year-old said.

"This is so great, to touch the trophy. I mean, I don't even care now if I ever win a match in my life again.

"This is it. This is the end of the world."

Ivanisevic was still being cheered by diehard Croatian fans as he appeared on the players' balcony almost three hours after the match.

His victory capped a remarkable comeback after months in the wilderness which hit its nadir with a loss in the first round of qualifying for this year's Australian Open.

END

Pat shouts the bar

10jul01

A SPORTING Pat Rafter put on a brave face after losing one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in history - and shouted his fans a drink.

The Australian star shrugged off his disappointing loss to Goran Ivanisevic with a round of beers at the Dog and Fox pub in Wimbledon village.

Rafter, comforted by girlfriend Lara Feltham, shouted an army of Australian fans, who had cheered him through the thrilling game, just hours after the epic five-set defeat.

The couple walked to Wimbledon village with a small group of friends, sharing a private Chinese dinner before treating the crowded bar.

"The Aussie crowd, I'm really proud of them, the way they conducted themselves," Rafter said. "I don't know if Wimbledon's seen anything like it. I don't know if they will again.

"It was just electric. The Aussies that were there were great. It's what we play for. This is what it's all about. It was so much fun."

Beaten in last year's final by Pete Sampras, Rafter suffered a heartbreaking 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 loss to Ivanisevic who himself has been a three-times losing finalist.

Cheered on by Australia's Ashes touring cricketers and hundreds of green and gold-clad fans, the 28-year-old Queenslander made a gracious centre court speech following his defeat.

"I pretty much had my little depression straight after the match," Rafter said.

"Listen, it's disappointing, but at the end of the day, it's a tennis match. We're out there having fun.

If you can have that attitude, you're not going to get too down.

"You've got to take your hat off to Goran. He played really well and he came out on top.

"It was an electric atmosphere out there. I don't think Wimbledon's ever seen anything like it and it's the reason we play tennis. For days and occasions like this."

Immediately after the match Rafter opened his first beer in the dressing room and tried to keep his spirits up.

"He's pretty happy in there, having a beer, joking around - that's his way of dealing with the disappointment," his brother Peter said after the match.

A big celebration party had been planned if Rafter had won his first Wimbledon trophy.

"It [the celebration] has just been canned," Peter Rafter said. "We were going to have dinner at the house and then do something - it just won't be the same obviously."

When Rafter walked on to centre court yesterday he had some heavy-duty support behind him.

The Wallabies, the Australian Rugby League team, swimmer Kieren Perkins and Prime Minister John Howard had all sent good luck faxes.

And the Australian cricket team, most wearing their baggy green caps, were lined up on centre court opposite the royal box, cheering him on and participating in the crowd wave.

"C'mon, mate," they would yell, raising their hands in an overhead clap on each point that he won.

Captain Steve Waugh, who met Rafter in the dressing room before the match to give him the best wishes from the team but "definitely no advice", said the atmosphere on centre court was incredible.

Loser Rafter wins Australia's heart

Australia awoke to a Wimbledon hangover today after Pat Rafter's nail-biting loss to Goran Ivanisevic in the All England tennis championship final.

Millions of Australians around the country stayed up late last night, glued to their televisions and radios as the three-hour thriller continued past midnight.

Despite the disappointment of seeing Rafter lose the tense five set encounter 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7, talk-back radio stations were bombarded this morning by weary tennis fans praising the Queenslander's efforts.

As well as lauding the courageous Croat's first victory in his fourth Wimbledon final, callers commended Rafter's poise and humility in defeat, his second at the grass-court classic after losing to American Pete Sampras last year.

Chief Rafter cheerleader was Prime Minister John Howard, who said Australians always felt a twinge of sorrow when a sportsman held in such high regard was defeated.

Mr Howard, who sat up at home in Sydney to watch the final, said: "Pat Rafter will always be a great Australian sportsman. He displayed grace in defeat. It was a fantastic match.

"But there are millions of Australians this morning who are proud of Pat Rafter and the way he carried the Australian sporting banner around the world with such a competitive sprit, such determination to win and with such sportsmanship," he told ABC radio in Brisbane.

Jim Rafter, Pat's father, said his son was probably hurting very badly right now after the loss.

"But we're proud of Pat ... not for the matches that he wins but for the graciousness in which he accepts defeat," he said.

Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said the country should be proud of Rafter's efforts in one of the best matches anyone would ever see.

Pollard said even though Rafter had been talking about retirement, it was likely he would continue in the sport, especially now that grand slam events were being seeded down to 32 instead of 16.

"As long as he's in the top 32 I think he'll keep playing and try to win one or two more grand slams. The way he played in the past fortnight, he's certainly capable of winning more," Pollard said.

The Rafter family also said Pat would move on from his gruelling loss.

Along with father Jim, Pat's mother Jocelyn, and sister Louise put on a brave face for the media, who had camped at the doorstep of their family home since early yesterday afternoon.

The family said Pat's loss would inspire him to do better.

"He'll get himself together again. Pat's not a person to look backwards," Jocelyn said.

She also said last night's final was one of the toughest matches she had watched.

"It was just so tight and I think he looked a little tentative out there but I could be wrong," she said.

"Goran played fantastic tennis and I suppose if he had to lose to anybody I would be pleased that it was to Goran because he's been there so many times and he's such a nice guy."

Possibly the only person more disappointed than Rafter was his coach Tony Roche, who has been on the losing end of a Wimbledon final six times - five as coach and one as a player.

In a moment that brought tears to the eyes of many spectators, Rafter choked up while thanking his coach.

"That part sort of hurts for me as well, because I consider Rochey and I a bit of a 50-50 combination. And he's a great mate. I would have loved to have done it for him as well," he said.AAP

Rafter will return, says Newk 

By Linda Pearce in London

Pat Rafter still has two years of his best tennis ahead of him, according to John Newcombe, the three-time Wimbledon singles champion.

Newcombe doubts this season will be Rafter's last and believes that not even a French Open title is beyond the four-time grand slam finalist.

Leading into Monday night's Wimbledon final against Croatian wildcard Goran Ivanisevic, Rafter maintained he would be taking an extended break from December, when he hopes to lead Australia in the Davis Cup decider at Melbourne Park. Whether or not Rafter returns will be determined by how much he misses the game.

"He's not going to leave," Newcombe said. "He hasn't told me that, but just in my own mind I think he'll be here next year. I think he'll take a four-month break or something and then come back and campaign for Wimbledon next year.

"I just don't think he's ready to do it, age-wise or game-wise. He's 28 and he's missed three years through injuries, so there's so much more that he can achieve. He knows that he can match it with anyone on any surface, and that's not just my opinion: speaking to guys like Pancho Segura and Guillermo Vilas in Paris, they both said he'd be crazy to stop now.

"It's his call, but he's at his peak now and he can hold that for two more years and then retire. I don't want him to be 40 years of age and look back and say, 'I really made a mistake'. Play next year and the year after; go after it."

Whether or not the 1997-98 US Open champion will retire permanently has been one of the curiosities of the Wimbledon fortnight. Those who were not in Australia when he revealed his plans during the Colonial Classic in January have quizzed Rafter repeatedly about his intentions, and he keeps insisting that nothing is definite.

"I probably said I'm pretty sure I'm going to retire at the end of the year," Rafter said. "You now, as in life, nothing is 100 per cent definite. I've always kept that window open in case I miss it again. Sort of pretty excited to have a bit of a life and see if I like it or not."

Rafter's brother and travelling companion, Peter, predicts the world No10 will indeed be lost to the game. He believes the end-of-year break is locked in, and the four-to-six-month break he is planning will not be long enough to give Pat a chance to miss tennis; rather, he will simply enjoy the rest and relaxation. So the pause will inevitably extend to a year, and that would be the end.

Others are more cynical, as Pete Sampras certainly seemed to be when the subject was raised at Queen's Club last month. Former Australian Davis Cup stalwart John Alexander is another doubter. "I just don't think he's ready to retire; I think he's got a lot of tennis left in him," Alexander said.

Rafter's coach, Tony Roche, who also assisted Ivan Lendl and Chris Lewis to reach Wimbledon finals and lost the 1977 decider himself, said he would not try to talk Rafter out of whatever decision he made. "He's a pretty stubborn bloke," Roche said.

"He'll definitely have a break, and I think when he's away from the game for four or five months he'll either say, 'hey, this wasn't a bad idea', or, 'I'm missing it and I'll get back into it'."

Roche said the decision was related to Rafter's history of wrist, shoulder and elbow injuries, his physically demanding serve-volley style of play, and how much hard work he must put into his game. "That all takes a lot out of you," Roche said. "There's a lot of little things, maybe, but not one major thing."

Team Rafter was also left to unofficially review its long-standing theory that hard match practice equals superior grand slam results. Rafter won his two US Opens after an extended, gruelling preparation in the lead-in events, but he arrived at Wimbledon feeling relatively fresh, if not overly confident.

"We've always thought that Pat plays well with a lot of matches under his belt, so maybe this is different," Roche said.

Rafter has already made some adjustments. He was always convinced he could not succeed on grass because his footing felt so insecure as he pushed off towards the net after serving.

Although he still maintains that moving on grass is never easy, he has clearly managed it far better in recent years.

Then last year, in a plan to nurse his shoulder through the latter stages of his career, the 28-year-old stopped playing doubles and cut back on his trademark kick serves. "Then I said, 'to hell with it - I'm going to go hard with it next year, I'm going to play singles, I'm going to play doubles, that's what's best for my game'," Rafter said.

"I've played doubles when it suits me, but not as much as I used to. I just go hard. If I want to kick my serve, I'll kick it. I also take a lot of breaks now. I'll play six or seven weeks on, then I'll take four or five weeks off to build it up again. The schedule doesn't really allow me to do it, but you just have to say, 'to hell with it' and do your own thing."

"I believe in destiny, I believe in fate. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."

 

"For Pat's sake, learn the 10 commandments of defeat By Doug Conway Source: AAP|Published: Tuesday July 10, 3:39 PM

SYDNEY, July 10 AAP - Handling victory should be easy.

It's in defeat you need role models like Pat Rafter.

Hundreds of thousands of young Australians would have watched Rafter endure another Wimbledon tennis final loss, despite the late hour.

They could not have had a finer teacher in the art of how to make sport a character-builder, rather than a character-wrecker.

These are some of the lessons Rafter illustrated so superbly for them, in word and deed:

1- Don't pretend it doesn't hurt. It's OK to be disappointed.

"This time hurts a little bit more than last time," Rafter said.

"The first time was just fun to be there. Second time, you know - I didn't want second. I wanted to win this time."

2- Take it on the chin and get over it. Move on. It's history.

"Someone has to lose and I'm the loser again," said Rafter.

"I've had my little depression."

His mum Jocelyn said: "He'll get himself together again. Pat's not a person to look backwards."

3- Keep it in perspective.

"It's disappointing but at the end of the day it's a tennis match," said Rafter.

4- Pay respect to your opponent.

"You've got to take your hat off (to Goran Ivanisevic)," said Rafter.

"He was just serving really well, it's not much fun down the other end trying to get it back."

That final hug at the net is also worthy of remark.

It was one of mutual respect, the sort of thing that ennobles sport.

5- Pay respect to yourself, too. It's an achievement just reaching the final, or the semi, or the team, or sometimes just the first round.

"I was really close again," Rafter acknowledged.

6- Find some humour in it all, somewhere. Rafter gave a self-derisory laugh and said: "I'm sick of making bloody history."

7- Try to learn from it. What might you have done better?

What could you have done differently? How might you have prepared better?

Rafter, like all pros, will be automatically trying to answer those questions.

8- Make no excuses. Rafter didn't blame his shoulder, or the delay in playing the final, or the weather, or crowd noise, or line calls, or anything.

Accept that you lost to a better player on a particular day.

9- Make sure you enjoy the whole experience, from the pre-match nerves to the post-match speeches.

"It was an amazing, amazing atmosphere," said Rafter.

"It was electric. This is what we play for, this is what it's all about - it was so much fun. If you can have that attitude, you're not going to get too down."

10- Thank those who have helped you, like your family, friends and fans, and really mean it.

Rafter didn't forget coach Tony Roche, either.

"He's a great mate," he said. "I would have loved to have done it for him as well."

Small wonder his brother (sic) Jim Rafter was able to declare: "We're proud of Pat, not for the matches that he wins but for the graciousness in which he accepts defeat."

Pat shouts the bar

10jul01

A SPORTING Pat Rafter put on a brave face after losing one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in history - and shouted his fans a drink.

The Australian star shrugged off his disappointing loss to Goran Ivanisevic with a round of beers at the Dog and Fox pub in Wimbledon village.

Rafter, comforted by girlfriend Lara Feltham, shouted an army of Australian fans, who had cheered him through the thrilling game, just hours after the epic five-set defeat.

The couple walked to Wimbledon village with a small group of friends, sharing a private Chinese dinner before treating the crowded bar.

"The Aussie crowd, I'm really proud of them, the way they conducted themselves," Rafter said. "I don't know if Wimbledon's seen anything like it. I don't know if they will again.

"It was just electric. The Aussies that were there were great. It's what we play for. This is what it's all about. It was so much fun."

Beaten in last year's final by Pete Sampras, Rafter suffered a heartbreaking 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 loss to Ivanisevic who himself has been a three-times losing finalist.

Cheered on by Australia's Ashes touring cricketers and hundreds of green and gold-clad fans, the 28-year-old Queenslander made a gracious centre court speech following his defeat.

"I pretty much had my little depression straight after the match," Rafter said.

"Listen, it's disappointing, but at the end of the day, it's a tennis match. We're out there having fun.

If you can have that attitude, you're not going to get too down.

"You've got to take your hat off to Goran. He played really well and he came out on top.

"It was an electric atmosphere out there. I don't think Wimbledon's ever seen anything like it and it's the reason we play tennis. For days and occasions like this."

Immediately after the match Rafter opened his first beer in the dressing room and tried to keep his spirits up.

"He's pretty happy in there, having a beer, joking around - that's his way of dealing with the disappointment," his brother Peter said after the match.

A big celebration party had been planned if Rafter had won his first Wimbledon trophy.

"It [the celebration] has just been canned," Peter Rafter said. "We were going to have dinner at the house and then do something - it just won't be the same obviously."

When Rafter walked on to centre court yesterday he had some heavy-duty support behind him.

The Wallabies, the Australian Rugby League team, swimmer Kieren Perkins and Prime Minister John Howard had all sent good luck faxes.

And the Australian cricket team, most wearing their baggy green caps, were lined up on centre court opposite the royal box, cheering him on and participating in the crowd wave.

"C'mon, mate," they would yell, raising their hands in an overhead clap on each point that he won.

Captain Steve Waugh, who met Rafter in the dressing room before the match to give him the best wishes from the team but "definitely no advice", said the atmosphere on centre court was incredible.

Loser Rafter wins Australia's heart

Australia awoke to a Wimbledon hangover today after Pat Rafter's nail-biting loss to Goran Ivanisevic in the All England tennis championship final.

Millions of Australians around the country stayed up late last night, glued to their televisions and radios as the three-hour thriller continued past midnight.

Despite the disappointment of seeing Rafter lose the tense five set encounter 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7, talk-back radio stations were bombarded this morning by weary tennis fans praising the Queenslander's efforts.

As well as lauding the courageous Croat's first victory in his fourth Wimbledon final, callers commended Rafter's poise and humility in defeat, his second at the grass-court classic after losing to American Pete Sampras last year.

Chief Rafter cheerleader was Prime Minister John Howard, who said Australians always felt a twinge of sorrow when a sportsman held in such high regard was defeated.

Mr Howard, who sat up at home in Sydney to watch the final, said: "Pat Rafter will always be a great Australian sportsman. He displayed grace in defeat. It was a fantastic match.

"But there are millions of Australians this morning who are proud of Pat Rafter and the way he carried the Australian sporting banner around the world with such a competitive sprit, such determination to win and with such sportsmanship," he told ABC radio in Brisbane.

Jim Rafter, Pat's father, said his son was probably hurting very badly right now after the loss.

"But we're proud of Pat ... not for the matches that he wins but for the graciousness in which he accepts defeat," he said.

Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said the country should be proud of Rafter's efforts in one of the best matches anyone would ever see.

Pollard said even though Rafter had been talking about retirement, it was likely he would continue in the sport, especially now that grand slam events were being seeded down to 32 instead of 16.

"As long as he's in the top 32 I think he'll keep playing and try to win one or two more grand slams. The way he played in the past fortnight, he's certainly capable of winning more," Pollard said.

The Rafter family also said Pat would move on from his gruelling loss.

Along with father Jim, Pat's mother Jocelyn, and sister Louise put on a brave face for the media, who had camped at the doorstep of their family home since early yesterday afternoon.

The family said Pat's loss would inspire him to do better.

"He'll get himself together again. Pat's not a person to look backwards," Jocelyn said.

She also said last night's final was one of the toughest matches she had watched.

"It was just so tight and I think he looked a little tentative out there but I could be wrong," she said.

"Goran played fantastic tennis and I suppose if he had to lose to anybody I would be pleased that it was to Goran because he's been there so many times and he's such a nice guy."

Possibly the only person more disappointed than Rafter was his coach Tony Roche, who has been on the losing end of a Wimbledon final six times - five as coach and one as a player.

In a moment that brought tears to the eyes of many spectators, Rafter choked up while thanking his coach.

"That part sort of hurts for me as well, because I consider Rochey and I a bit of a 50-50 combination. And he's a great mate. I would have loved to have done it for him as well," he said.

AAP

 

Rafter emerges a winner for teaching Australians that losing doesn't suck

By Richard Hinds

Too often in recent years, Australian self-esteem has hung on a fine thread, dependant upon the success or failure of its athletes.

This is why - besides the significant fact it produced one of the greatest matches in Wimbledon 's 124-year history - The People's Final was such a proud day in a nation's sporting history.

A throwback to the real spirit of Gallipoli, rather than the contrived attempts to reproduce it. A reminder that it is the courage and skill with which victory is pursued, as much as the victory itself, which define greatness. And, in simple terms, that losing doesn't always suck.

Pat Rafter fell two points short of achieving tennis greatness, at least at SW19.

You can't help hoping that Goran Ivanisevic's fairytale convinces him that those who keep knocking loudest on the All England club's door eventually gain admission. But if he doesn't, don't mourn him.

"At the end of the day, it's a tennis match," Rafter said. "We're out there having fun. If you can have that attitude, you're not going to get too down."

Those words are easy to say. Rafter lives them.

He plays with rare passion yet, at the end of the day, he can walk away. And he will, with his head held high.

However, it was not merely Rafter's unrewarded excellence that made this such a memorable occasion for Australians.

It was the spontaneous feelings of pride and joy that came simply from walking into a centre court gone mad that made it uplifting.

Especially because this amazing atmosphere had been generated, in large part, by unbridled Australian pride.

"The Duchess of Kent said she wished that every match was like that because she enjoyed that - as well as the atmosphere," Rafter said.

"This is just too good," Ivanisevic agreed. "I don't think it's ever going to happen in history. I mean, this is great. So many Australian fans, so many Croatian fans, like a football match.

"I never enjoy more playing tennis than today. It was Wimbledon and the crowd was just too good."

Too noisy, too happy, too expressive for Wimbledon. But, for the most part, immaculately behaved.

Fanatical in their support of their favourites - the Australians for Rafter, everyone else for Ivanisevic - yet generous in their appreciation of his opponent.

While the now traditional Australian sporting symbols were omnipresent - boxing kangaroos, flags, green and gold war paint and chants of "Oi! Oi! Oi!" - there was none of the ugly one-sidedness and jingoism that sometimes lurks beneath the surface.

Perhaps the Australian fans were restrained by the venerable centre court. Or maybe they were just happy to have gained unexpected access to one of the most exclusive occasions in sport.

Or, just maybe, they had taken their lead from the antique demeanour of their hero Rafter, who sometimes seems to have stepped straight out of a 1950s news reel film on Australian tennis glory.

Rafter is the type of bloke who makes you feel proud to be Australian.

Not because he has film-star good looks, or the perfect serve-volley game, or because of his overt patriotism.

It is the simple, unaffected way he says "sorry mate" to his opponents when he is unhappy with his ball toss and lets the ball fall to the court rather than hammering it in to play.

There, in two words, is just about everything you need to know about him. Gracious performer, proud Australian. They are the sorts of things we would like to think about ourselves.

Partly, they are why you did not feel too bad for him in his moment of disappointment. Had Ivanisevic lost again, particularly after twice double-faulting on match point, there is every chance he would have made good his threat to jump from a bridge.

Rafter let out a few expletives in the locker-room, then washed away the taste of disappointment with a few cold beers.

Which is not to say Rafter will not find this defeat difficult to reconcile. Losing to Pete Sampras last year had been a wild ride that finished one stop short. This was destiny unfulfilled.

But, because he is just so damn normal, so seemingly at ease with himself, it was almost impossible to feel bad for him.

While winning here might have elevated Rafter to the ranks of great Australian players, the manner of his defeat and the grace with which it was handled will ensure he is never cast as a loser.

Another great Australian, Ken Rosewell, lost four times here and no-one thought that of him.

Perhaps a greater mark of his career is that Rafter's exemplary behaviour has made an impact on his countrymen, and they on him. "I'm proud of them, the way they conducted themselves," he said. "They're great losers as well."

rhinds@mail.fairfax.com.au

The future can wait, says Our Pat

By Linda Pearce in London Soon after Pat Rafter reached the locker-room to contemplate his second heartbreaking Wimbledon final defeat in as many years, he was greeted by a handful of his Australian mates and a case of German beer. Rafter attempted a few jokes to lighten the mood, but elsewhere the question was being asked: is he serious about giving the game away at the end of the year?

The answer is yes, but the issue is whether, after a planned six-month break, he will return. One theory is that had it been Rafter, rather than Goran Ivanisevic, who had kissed the Champion's Trophy on Monday, the temptation to walk out on the first day next year as the defending champion may have been too great. But Ivanisevic is the champion, and Rafter does not seem certain of what the future holds.

"Definitely, I'll be taking time off at the end of the year," the 28-year-old said after the 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7 epic, ending a tournament that had produced perhaps the most unexpected grand slam result since a German teenager named Boris Becker stormed the All England Club in 1985. And next year? Is Wimbledon on the itinerary? "Who knows?" he asked.

Rafter's coach, Tony Roche, has no idea. Nor do Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald and coach Wally Masur, although Rafter is at least as committed to this year's Davis Cup cause - and a probable Australian final against France or the Netherlands in Melbourne in December - as he was to a Wimbledon breakthrough.

"I tend to think once you walk away, it's hard to get back into the grind," Masur said. "When you retire, you miss the highs - Pat would miss the excitement of a Wimbledon final - but he won't miss the training, the travelling, the stretching, the treatment, the ice. We'll see how he reacts to this. Maybe it spurs him on to go one step better, or maybe not."

Rafter will take a three-week break at his home in Bermuda, while his brothers Peter and Steve - who shared the player's box with Rafter's girlfriend Lara Feltham, chiropractor Andrea Bisaz and the Roches, Tony and Sue - return to the Sunshine Coast. The North American hardcourt circuit is Rafter's next priority, and is probably his favourite part of the year, as the serve-volleyer has won two US Opens, the sum of his grand slams.

Yet, as memorable as those two majors have been, Wimbledon is in its own class. If Rafter had not initially appeared to his travelling companion Peter to be as disappointed as he had been a year earlier, then his behaviour was misleading; the hurt was apparently greater.

"The first time was just fun to be there," Rafter said. "Second time, you know, I didn't want second. I wanted to win this time. I was really close again but it was really taken out of my hands this time. He served very well when he had to."

Such was the frustration that when Rafter returned to the locker room, he admitted he "might have said a few curse words" in what he described as his brief "little depression". Then it was time for a few beers. "You know, I think it was a great two weeks," he said. "What can I do? It's all over. Still going to celebrate."

If this was Rafter's farewell, it may also have been Roche's. Wimbledon's singles runner-up in 1968, the veteran coach has now fretted in the players' box while Ivan Lendl, Chris Lewis and Rafter have contested five losing finals. It was an emotional moment when he was acknowledged during the on-court interview, and Roche was quietly proud as Team Rafter gathered in the competitors' lounge for stage one of the wake.

"I'm just so disappointed for Pat, because I know what it means to him," Roche said. And the feeling was mutual, as Rafter admitted that part of the hurt was not being able to succeed on behalf of what he considers a true partnership. "I don't know if I'll ever be back," Roche said. "At this stage I'm just not really sure. I'll just get through this year and see what happens. It would have been a lovely way to go out." 

Aussie greats implore Pat not to quit By LEO SCHLINK in London

11 July 01

Daily Telegraph

PAT Rafter flew back to Bermuda last night, destined for a three-week break and, according to his brother Peter, almost certainly resigned to having made his final Wimbledon appearance despite the urgings of Australia's greatest players for the Queenslander to reconsider retirement plans. Crushed at losing in five sets to 125th-ranked wild card Goran Ivanisevic, third seed Rafter was non-commital when asked if he would consider returning to the All-England Club next year.

"Who knows?" Rafter pondered in the wake of shattering defeat.

"I'll be definitely taking time off at the end of the year. I don't know if I'll be back."

Peter Rafter believes it is implausible the dual US Open champion and former world No. 1 will return to the sport after a six-month break.

"Pat's going to take off six months and, after six months, he's not going to miss it," Peter Rafter predicted.

"The first thing he's going to do is take a holiday. If he takes six months off after the Davis Cup final (December 2), if Australia gets into it, and if he takes off six months, he's not going to be ready for Wimbledon anyway."

Rafter said his brother had organised a private jet to return to Bermuda on Monday night, but the arrangement had collapsed with the final being delayed.

The Rafters gathered in the locker-room immediately after Pat had received his second runners-up trophy to commiserate over a few beers before heading to the Wimbledon Village to acknowledge a regiment of Australian supporters.

But Rafter left the grounds with no shortage of advice.

Fred Stolle, who lost three consecutive Wimbledon finals, emphathised with Rafter, declaring: "I lost three in a row, so I know what he's feeling like now.

"It's tough, but you've got to come back and give it a go next year and I think he will.

"He'll come back and reflect on that and he can hold his head up high and be proud.

"He gave it his best shot and his best shot was two shots away from being good enough."

Triple Wimbledon champion John Newcombe challenged Rafter to return for another tilt at Wimbledon before closing the books on his career.

"Two guys go out on a court for a final and only one can win and one can lose and what you do is you leave everything out there and that's what Pat did," Newcombe said.

"He tried his hardest and in the end it wasn't quite good enough.

"I think he needs to come back. I think he's got unfinished business out there. I think what Pat will probably do - and it's only my guess is take about four months next year - and then come back and prepare for Wimbledon. But that's his call."

Victorian Pat Cash, the 1987 champion, said Rafter was desperately unlucky.

"It's tough enough having to go into a fifth set in a Grand Slam final because they were both so desperate to win Wimbledon it was just an outrageous atmosphere," he said.

"I can't believe that Goran held it together. It was just an incredibly exciting match. You've got to feel for him (Rafter) really but I also believe that he played just about as well as he can play in a big match like that .

"(Pat) played a really good match. I lost two Grand Slam finals (Australian Opens) like that, really close matches in the fifth set and I walked away and sure I was really disappointed, but at the end of the day I held my head up high because I played pretty well.

"For me, Pat's the most exciting player on the circuit, in the way he plays, I love the way he plays. It's a similar way to me and it'd be a really pity if he retired.

"I also really wanted Goran to win. I'm kinda proud of him because everyone had written him off, you know I'd have loved Pat to have won because he's a mate of mine. We've won doubles titles together."

Rafter will resume at the Tennis Masters series in Montreal before heading to the US Open via Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Long Island. ************************************************

Silver lining to Pat's cloud

By LEO SCHLINK

11 July 01

Daily Telegraph

PAT Rafter's shattering Wimbledon final defeat has at least one positive - he is now almost certain to make a bonus singles appearance in Australia at the Tennis Masters Cup at Homebush Bay in November. The Queenslander collected 100 points for reaching the All-England Club decider and rises to sixth in the Champions' Race with 337 points and still has the US Open and four more Tennis Masters series events to improve his tally.

Rafter is bidding to secure a place in the elite eight-player field which will gather at the Olympic site from November 12-18 to settle the No. 1 position.

Australian Open champion Andre Agassi, Rafter's Wimbledon semi-final victim, heads the list with 574 points from French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten (490) and Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero (466).

South Australian Lleyton Hewitt is strongly placed in fourth placed with 383 points, while French Open and Australian Open semi-finalist Sebastien Grosjean is next with 342 - five points ahead of Rafter.

Rafter and Hewitt seem certain to lead Australia's Davis Cup semi-final campaign against Sweden in Sydney in September and, if successful, could then use the Tennis Masters Cup in November to prepare for the Davis Cup final (November 30-December 2).

The Tennis Masters Cup would provide a fitting singles stage for Rafter's farewell given the fact it will attract the sport's elite and offer $US3.5million. The tournament has already been described as the "greatest single-week tournament" to be staged in Australia.

Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic moves to 10th place with 243 points.

Under an agreement between the tournament owners - the ATP, the International Tennis Federation and the four Grand Slams - Ivanisevic can be given a wild card to contest the event if he does not accrue enough points to make the top eight.

END 

Fleet Street: Final was best ever

>From our wire services

10 July 01

News Interactive

LONDON: Goran Ivanisevic's Wimbledon win over Australia's Pat Rafter has been dubbed one of the greatest, most glorious and most improbable Wimbledon finals ever by the British press. The tense five-set final was watched by 10,000 screaming tennis fans - labelled "real tennis fans" by the newspapers - on Centre Court and millions more around the world on television.

The match, which came down to one break of Rafter's serve in the final set, has been ranked alongside Bjorn Borg's last title win over John McEnroe in 1980, Boris Becker's victory as a 17-year-old over Kevin Curren to become the first unseeded player to win, flamboyant Romanian Ilie Nastase's five-set loss to American Stan Smith in 1972 and Jimmy Connors' fightback in 1982 against McEnroe.

The Daily Telegraph also put the win in the same category of "cardiac-arresting dramas" as Cathy Freeman winning the 400m in Sydney, Steve Redgrave grabbing his fifth Olympic gold medal and Tiger Woods taking his fourth consecutive major title.

"Ivanisevic's victory is in that special category because it was achieved in defiance of nightly pain, towards the end of a career becoming synonymous with wasted talent aimless eccentricity," it said.

"Yet this was a final matching not one but two crowd favourites. There has been no finer sportsman in tennis for the past decade than the pin-up Australian, who had been so close to winning Wimbledon 12 months earlier and justified all the nice things everyone has ever said about him by telling Ivanisevic at the end: 'I'm happy for you mate.'."

The Independent said Ivanisevic was an unforgettable champion and his story was one of resurrection unparalleled.

"There will probably never be another Wimbledon final or a champion like the ones that exploded into such technicolour life 24 hours after the departure of Tim Henman," it said.

The Times called it the most dramatic, most uproarious Wimbledon final since the Borg-McEnroe game, The Guardian said it was the most glorious and improbable of finals, while the Daily Mail labelled it the most extraordinary day in Wimbledon's 125-year history.

"So the Aussies don't always win, even though on this day the good guys came first and second," it said.

Rupert Murdoch's tabloid The Sun declared Ivanisevic an honorary Brit and said he should be knighted.

"Well, let's face it, that's the only way we're going to win the darn thing," it said.

"And ... it gives Britain instant revenge on the Aussies following the humiliating beatings they dished out to our cricket and rugby teams."

And the Daily Star continued the anti-Australian line, saying: "A Pat Rafter win would have meant gloating Aussies everywhere. It's pretty sad when we have to rely on other nations for a bit of sporting glory. But beggars can't be choosers. Good one Goran."

 

Rafter a winner even after loss

By STEPHEN DABKOWSKI GLOBAL MARKETS EDITOR Tuesday 10 July 2001

Pat Rafter might not have completed a fairytale victory at Wimbledon last night, but no matter, he has already achieved something rare in the marketing world. The sports management gurus believe his appeal with be long-lasting.

Winning Wimbledon normally guarantees the victor a few million dollars in bonus payments from sponsors and endorsement companies. But the consultants believe Rafter transcends the quick grab for money that normally follows a good Wimbledon campaign.

Channel Nine illustrated the love affair that Australians now have with Rafter, dispensing with normal programming to show the final live from 8.30pm. What makes Rafter so special in marketing terms is that he's seen as the complete package - a great player, yet gracious and humble. He breaks the rule that good guys finish last. Rafter might also turn out to be the exception to another marketing rule. Retirement, which the Queenslander is contemplating for next year, normally spells the end of commercial interest in a tennis player.

But the deal makers believe there will always be corporate desire in being associated with Rafter because of his clean image.

Sports consultant Lynne Anderson believes Rafter, and possibly swimmer Ian Thorpe, who has a similar personality, stand alone in their marketability among local sports stars.

"I think Pat Rafter is priceless at the moment because he represents almost the ideal sporting property," she said.

"His image is just so clean and positive, and there is also that great fightback quality."

A threat of retirement by Rafter has just heightened the interest in this year's Wimbledon, according to Anderson, which us why she believes Channel Nine must be "filthy they didn't get more advertising dollars".

She believes retirement could open up Rafter's appeal to a wider list of corporate clients interested in being associated with his image.

"He's in that transition phase where companies could grab a great opportunity because he could actually be available instead of playing," she said.

"I mean, companies would have to pay for it, but if they work it right and have the right product or service to link with him, this guy would be perfect.

"Given the recent corporate failures, I think we all realise that corporate Australia is going to have to think about doing the right thing, have greater transparency, and any company that was looking to put into place some good-cause-related marketing and show a real commitment to a cause I can see him (Rafter) slotting in well."

Rafter, who is managed by United States-based SFX sports management, is already one of the highest-paid sports starts in Australia, having earned $9.5 million last year, according to tennis magazine Ace.

He supports several causes, and pumps millions into the Cherish the Children Foundation, a charity run by his sister Louise.

Steve Frazer, managing director of sports management giant Octagon, had a chance of signing Pat Rafter some years ago, but missed out, which he's honest enough to now lament. "Can I have my time over again?" he joked yesterday.

"Patrick is the consummate class act, the classic Australian," he said. "He's a fairytale really."

Success at this year's Wimbledon, especially another epic victory in the semi-final against Andre Agassi, is crucial to Rafter's place in history, according to Frazer.

"The players still recognise Wimbledon as the elite event, and there is still more focus on it than any of the other grand-slam events," he said.

"Let's be clear there is no monetary motivation in Pat Rafter's performance in Wimbledon. It is the icing on a very fat cake." END

Millions tune in to support Pat By Richard Yallop and Amanda Meade July 11, 2001 THE 3.5 million viewers who sat up watching Pat Rafter in the Wimbledon final were not simply supporting a Queensland tennis champion: they were barracking for the quintessential Australian good bloke.

The good bloke who shouted drinks for Australian supporters at the Dog and Fox pub in Wimbledon village just hours after his second successive Wimbledon final loss. The modest good bloke who grew up at home hearing the family saying: "I'm no greater than any man; no man is greater than I."

The same good bloke who was utterly bemused when he lost to Andre Agassi at the Australian Open as a raw 22-year-old, and suddenly found himself a national pin-up. "I'm just an ordinary bloke doing something I love," he told his mother, Jocelyn.

Historian David Day is well used to charting the national psyche, and in Rafter's defeat to Goran Ivanisevic, he saw echoes from Australia's past. "He came out almost as the victor because of how he dealt with it: there was a touch of Gallipoli and the heroic defeat."

Day analysed Rafter's attributes as a good bloke: "He's handsome, with a physicality that's quintessentially Australian. But it's his essential decency that attracts people."

Rafter is far too modest to think of himself as the definition of the Aussie good bloke, but plenty of people are prepared to nominate him for the title.

Sydney writer Catharine Lumby said: "There's sex appeal, sure, but he also fits an old cultural stereotype which goes back to the Anzac tradition: he's resourceful, tenacious, laconic, and modest."

Canberra historian and writer Humphrey McQueen sees Rafter's old-fashioned values as his great attraction.

"In the age of (US TV host) Jerry Springer, when you're supposed to shout and scream your emotions, Rafter shows you don't have to be selfish, aggressive, and violent."

Even the PR men couldn't come up with a Pat Rafter, according to McQueen. "You can't say he's just the product of some public relations firm. He would have been exposed years ago. People can pick fakes."

And there was no faking last night's viewing figures. The Nine network managed an 87.3 share of the national viewing audience, dwarfing all the other networks in every state.

The highest share was recorded in Melbourne at 90.6. Perth peaked at 76.8.

About a million people in Sydney and Melbourne were tuned in and about 500,000 in Brisbane and Perth.

Champion to the end

11jul01 I HAVE often observed what lessons in life we can learn from those who excel in sport, writes MIKE GIBSON. Pat Rafter gave us another one at Wimbledon.

In the early hours of yesterday morning, as television sets flickered through windows right around Australia, Pat demonstrated dignity in defeat.

How tough must it be?

After a fortnight of struggle, after a wonderful semi-final against Andre Agassi that went down to the wire, after one of the greatest finals of them all, someone walks up to you on centre court, sticks a microphone in your face and asks how it feels to lose?

"Someone has to lose and unfortunately it was me," Pat replied.

"I've had an unbelievable time out there. The atmosphere is fantastic and this is what we play tennis for.

"He just put more pressure on my serve and the way we were playing, it was a matter of whose serve would break down first . . . it was me."

When the end came, it was as though the executioner didn't have the stomach to finish the job.

Ivanisevic kept loading the gun but couldn't fire the fatal shot.

Double faults on two match points. Pat's coach Tony Roche couldn't bear to watch.

Such was the ecstasy of this unforgettable final, the agony was to last a little longer.

Yet, when it was all over, as happens so often, the end seemed to come suddenly.

One man lying there on centre court, weeping with emotion after resurrecting himself from tennis oblivion. The other, cheered on by a rapturous crowd that had sung Waltzing Matilda, overwhelmed with the emptiness of what might have been and the reality that, for the second year in a row, he had lost the final at Wimbledon.

There are some sportsmen so lacking in style they are incapable of demonstrating class, even when they win. Boofheaded loudmouths who make you cringe at their crassness and arrogance.

To make a nation proud, to leave us feeling good about ourselves as we finally switched off the television set and went to bed, required a pretty special sort of Australian.

Pat isn't just a champion tennis player. More importantly, he's a champion bloke.

By his demeanour, by the way he carries himself in victory and defeat, Pat shows a brand of character that makes you realise being Australian is still the greatest feeling there is.

Despite the occasional clown who has embarrassed us with his boorish behaviour, we in this country have been blessed in recent years with champions who demonstrate humility and style.

When Ian Thorpe finally dived into the pool and lost a race at the Olympics, he left us feeling just as proud as when he broke a world record and won a gold medal.

The same can be said for Greg Norman. Here we had the No. 1 golfer in the world who became more famous for the major tournaments he lost than those that he won.

Yet for all the heart-breaking moments when he watched those big ones slip away, on all those occasions when he could have been consumed by bitterness at the fates that conspired against him, Greg accepted defeat with as much class as he would have accepted the crystal trophy or the winner's green jacket.

LAST weekend Australian sport basked in a truly magnificent few days.

The Wallabies stood up to be counted as they levelled the series against the Lions. In cricket, Steve Waugh and his team belted the daylights out of England in the First Test.

In the clubhouse at Wimbledon, the honour roll up there on the wall will record that Croat Goran Ivanisevic won the men's singles title in 2001.

His was an inspiring story. They don't write them much better.

But for those of us who sat up to watch the match, one of the memories that will endure was the manner in which the runner-up, Patrick Rafter of Australia, so manfully accepted what must have been the gut-wrenching disappointment of his loss.

He did so with admirable grace.

Like Wayne Bennett says, you learn more from defeat than victory. The worth of a man is better measured when he loses than when he wins.

And I want to tell you, Pat. Yourself, your family, the whole darn lot of us. You did us proud.

Everyone loves a loser like Rafter

Pat Rafter proved one thing - Australians don't just love winners.

Three-and-a-half million people can't be wrong.

One in five Aussies watched Rafter's second successive loss in a Wimbledon final, yet hailed him in defeat as appreciatively as they have in victory.

Prime Minister John Howard, glued to his television in Sydney, was among the throng burning the midnight oil to follow Rafter's agonising five-set defeat to big-serving Croat wildcard Goran Ivanisevic.

"He displayed grace in defeat," Mr Howard said.

"There are millions of Australians who are proud of Pat Rafter and the way he carried the Australian sporting banner around the world with such a competitive spirit, such determination to win and with such sportsmanship."

Rafter's parents, watching in Brisbane, could not have been prouder of their son's poise and humility in the face of a second finals defeat after last year's loss to American Pete Sampras.

Jim Rafter said the dual US Open champion was probably hurting very badly.

"We know he's a good tennis player, but every time I see him lose something that he has his heart so set on I'm so proud of him the way he handles it," he said.

Jocelyn Rafter said her son would quickly bounce back.

"He'll get himself together again. Pat's not a person to look backwards,'' she said.

"I suppose if he had to lose to anybody I would be pleased that it was to [three time runner-up] Goran because he's been there so many times and he's such a nice guy."

Meanwhile, Croatia brushed aside worries over its worst government crisis in years yesterday and threw itself into preparations to give Ivanisevic the ultimate hero's welcome.

More than 100,000 people were expected to turn out in Ivanisevic's home town of Split, on the Adriatic coast, to greet their champion.

The entire country, brought to a virtual standstill during the epic final on Monday, erupted with joy as Ivanisevic clinched victory on his fourth match point in the fifth set.

Thousands poured into the streets of Split waving flags in celebration. Shots rang out, mixing with shouts of delight and a cacophony of car horns.

Split was gearing up for its "party of the century" on the city's main waterfront to celebrate the volatile hero of one of the most nerve-jangling Wimbledon finals in history.

Ivanisevic was expected to sail into Split harbour escorted by hundreds of vessels, and join top Croat pop stars throwing an open-air concert in his honour.

Deprived of sporting glory? Try sleeping on it

Pat Rafter ... 3.5 million people stayed up to watch his Wimbledon final. By Anthony Dennis

It was difficult to tell what was heavier in Australia yesterday: hearts or heads. A year after the Olympics, when the world stayed up late to watch us, there was a hint of poignancy - or was it reservation? - attached to our staying up for Wimbledon. Pat lost but the international sporting balance has been restored. Now we're back in the pyjamas. And as bedside alarms - and the odd early morning wake-up call - reverberated across the land, we paid for our support.

"Viewers share Rafter's heartbreak" blared a Nine Network blurb yesterday. That's not all we shared. As dawn broke the heart was still heavy, the head heavier still on the pillow. Sleep deprivation was tinged with the sad reality of no worse a malady than sporting glory deprivation.

An estimated national television audience of more than 3.5 million - with a peak of more than a million viewers in Sydney - stayed up to watch the Pat Rafter versus Goran Ivanisevic match, according to Nine Network, doubtless the biggest single audience since the Olympics.

Yesterday Dr Ron Grunstein, head of the sleep disorder centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, said that between 2pm and 4pm was the danger zone for the sleep-deprived, the period when a lack of sleep is most pronounced. He admitted he was also a victim, having stayed up to watch the tennis.

"How do I feel? I feel like a sleep," he said. "The problem here is we have all these beds at the sleep lab. But it looks bad for the patients if we duck off for a sleep."

At the Croatian Club in Punchbowl heads and hearts were lighter yesterday. The manager, Mrs Chery Sorak, had taken countless congratulatory calls over the Croatian's triumph. There are about 250,000 Croatian-speaking Australians. Mrs Sorak said that had Rafter been playing anyone other than a Croatian, he would have had the community's enthusiastic support.

Ivanisevic visited the club last year during the Olympics, and there is an autographed picture of him in the foyer. But there is little chance it will be souvenired. It is mounted out of reach, but to be on the safe side they now may want to move it just a little higher.

Sydneysiders will have the opportunity to see Rafter on the court in September when Australia plays Sweden in a Davis Cup semi-final at Homebush Bay. Tickets go on sale on Monday. The tickets, for three days only, will cost $260 per adult, $220 for concessions - about twice what Australians paid to see Rafter play in the Wimbledon final. Now that's a wake-up call.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2001

MEN'S FINAL REPORT Sportal

Pat Rafter's dreams of winning the Wimbledon title were shattered in five sets by Goran Ivanisevic last night as he became the first wildcard to win a Grand Slam tournament. Rafter fought Ivanisevic every step of the way in one of the most memorable finals of all time, losing 6-3 3-6 6-3 2-6 9-7, on a centre court stage not accustomed to such a carnival atmosphere.

For the second year in a row Rafter tasted defeat after losing to Pete Sampras in 2000 but Ivanisevic, a runner-up on three previous occasions, finally lifted the trophy he first had the chance to win in 1992.

In that year he lost to Andre Agassi and followed it up with defeats to Sampras in 1994 and 1998 but there was to be no denying him this time although he did not wrap up the match until his fourth match point.

Ivanisevic twice double faulted on match point, Rafter saved the third with a beautiful backhand lob, but then the Croatian took it on the fourth try when Rafter put a forehand return into the net.

Ivanisevic broke down and embraced Rafter to the huge cheers of the crowd who had just witnessed one of the great Wimbledon finals.

With the final delayed a day, Wimbledon officials released 10,000 seats to the public and thousands of Australians and Croats descended on SW19 to support and cheer on their heroes with the atmosphere more akin to a football match.

The crowd sang and chanted as they awaited the arrival on court of the finalists. The volume levels increased to deafening levels when Rafter and Ivanisevic came onto court.

Right from the off Ivanisevic's serve was in top gear and going into the match he said just needed one break of serve a set and he would be able to close it out.

This he duly did in the opening set when he broke Rafter in his opening service game to take the early advantage which he clung on to for the remainder of the set.

Rafter showed true Aussie grit to break straight back as the second set began - to lead 2-0 in what became a mirror image of the first set.

However, Ivanisevic - who had dropped serve just six times in his six matches here - had the advantage of serving first in the third set.

He was given some tablets before the start of the set, then required a massage on his serving shoulder when he led 2-1. Ivanisevic broke Rafter in a nervous sixth game and went on to take the set.

Again Rafter was forced to dig deep into his reserves to level the match while Ivanisevic almost lost his famous temper when he double faulted with Rafter at break point in the sixth game.

The Croat foot faulted, then slammed his racquet into the ground and vigourously complained to the umpire when he his second serve was called wide. He momentarily lapsed and Rafter broke him again to take the set 6-2.

The match ebbed and flowed in the final set but Rafter was clearly struggling on his serve while Ivansevic re-discovered his rhythm.

Ivanisevic broke Rafter with the scores level at 7-7 and then nervously served out the match.

Rafter was clearly disappointed, but congratulated Ivanisevic -- ranked 125th in the world -- on a "great effort".

"It was just one of those matches that could gone either way and it went Goran's way," Rafter said.

"We were both out here giving it our best shot. Someone has to lose and I'm the loser again.

"I had an unbelievable time out here. The atmosphere was fantastic. This is what we play tennis for.

"It was a great effort from Goran. I'm a culprit of writing Goran off a couple of years ago, and he's come here and proved to all of us that he's playing great tennis, and he's a deserved winner."

Rafter had kept his composure throughout his on-court interview, but appeared to choke up when he thanked his coach Tony Roche and the Australian fan base.

Ivanisevic was obviously delighted to finally break through for his popular win.

"It might be dream and I wake up and they tell me I haven't won Wimbledon again," he said.

"I'd like to thank the All England club for giving me a wildcard," he said, drawing laughter all round.

Andre Aghastly blows his cool

There's much at stake at Wimbledon, but it's no excuse for Andre Agassi behaving like a brat, writes Richard Hinds.

After two hours and 59 minutes Pat Rafter stood triumphant as the most courageous and gallant of victors over Andre Agassi in their Wimbledon semi-final.

However, as the match, the crowd and - at least in his own mind - the line judges turned against him, Agassi scampered from the court the least gracious of losers.

And that is regardless of whether, as it appeared to some, he had concluded the match by rifling a ball in the direction of a line judge who had reported him for swearing.

Asked in his post-match press conference whether he had aimed the ball at the official, Agassi said: "No, I meant to hit that in the net."

Whether you believe a man who can knock a 5¢ coin off the corner of a sideline could not hit a ball from his hand into the net is immaterial.

His behaviour in the final stages of the epic match did little credit to Agassi who had, over a decade, undergone a metamorphosis from teenage brat to one of the game's most articulate and well-loved sportsmen.

Yet, perhaps because his quest to fill his grand slam trophy cabinet has become so intense, Agassi seems to have become easily distracted during, and unreasonably petulant after, his recent disappointments.

At the French Open, Agassi lost in the fourth round to Sebastien Grosjean after, it seemed, his concentration was broken by the arrival of former US president Bill Clinton. While he denied Clinton's arrival had distracted him, Agassi was inconsolable, monosyllabic and almost confrontational in the interview room after that defeat.

This time, it was a couple of close calls at crucial moments - and the dobbing of a line judge - that caused him to lose concentration on the court and his temper at the press conference.

The first dispute came with Rafter holding break point in the fifth game of the fourth set when a Rafter volley - according to replays - hit the outside of the line for a winner. The line judge agreed, Agassi did not. Instead, he dropped his racquet and stood with his hands outstretched, then spent the next change of ends expressing his displeasure to the umpire.

Then, upset with another call deep in the fifth set - which replays also showed to be in - Agassi walked across the baseline muttering to himself. Or so he thought. A woman line judge overheard his remarks and ran the length of the court to report his mumblings to the chair umpire.

Agassi was warned for an audible obscenity, and never regained his composure.

Perhaps, in the context of the match, the line judge's decision to jump from her chair and report the matter to the umpire bordered on schoolmarmish.

However, even if Agassi had been able to solicit any public sympathy because of the petty nature of his offence, belting the ball in the judge's direction as well as some extraordinary post-match comments ensured he departed the villain.

Asked if being reported for an audible obscenity was unfair, Agassi said: "Yeah, big time. Big time. I blame her husband."

Agassi gained some sympathy from Rafter, who believed the line judge should not have reported the obscenity. "I thought it was a little bit unfair of that lady to report him," he said. "I guess she took the rules a little bit too seriously."

Rafter got most things right this day, but not that one. The only one taking himself too seriously was Agassi.

Rafter emerges a winner for teaching Australians that losing doesn't suck

By Richard Hinds

Too often in recent years, Australian self-esteem has hung on a fine thread, dependant upon the success or failure of its athletes.

This is why - besides the significant fact it produced one of the greatest matches in Wimbledon 's 124-year history - The People's Final was such a proud day in a nation's sporting history.

A throwback to the real spirit of Gallipoli, rather than the contrived attempts to reproduce it. A reminder that it is the courage and skill with which victory is pursued, as much as the victory itself, which define greatness. And, in simple terms, that losing doesn't always suck.

Pat Rafter fell two points short of achieving tennis greatness, at least at SW19.

You can't help hoping that Goran Ivanisevic's fairytale convinces him that those who keep knocking loudest on the All England club's door eventually gain admission. But if he doesn't, don't mourn him.

"At the end of the day, it's a tennis match," Rafter said. "We're out there having fun. If you can have that attitude, you're not going to get too down."

Those words are easy to say. Rafter lives them.

He plays with rare passion yet, at the end of the day, he can walk away. And he will, with his head held high.

However, it was not merely Rafter's unrewarded excellence that made this such a memorable occasion for Australians.

It was the spontaneous feelings of pride and joy that came simply from walking into a centre court gone mad that made it uplifting.

Especially because this amazing atmosphere had been generated, in large part, by unbridled Australian pride.

"The Duchess of Kent said she wished that every match was like that because she enjoyed that - as well as the atmosphere," Rafter said.

"This is just too good," Ivanisevic agreed. "I don't think it's ever going to happen in history. I mean, this is great. So many Australian fans, so many Croatian fans, like a football match.

"I never enjoy more playing tennis than today. It was Wimbledon and the crowd was just too good."

Too noisy, too happy, too expressive for Wimbledon. But, for the most part, immaculately behaved.

Fanatical in their support of their favourites - the Australians for Rafter, everyone else for Ivanisevic - yet generous in their appreciation of his opponent.

While the now traditional Australian sporting symbols were omnipresent - boxing kangaroos, flags, green and gold war paint and chants of "Oi! Oi! Oi!" - there was none of the ugly one-sidedness and jingoism that sometimes lurks beneath the surface.

Perhaps the Australian fans were restrained by the venerable centre court. Or maybe they were just happy to have gained unexpected access to one of the most exclusive occasions in sport.

Or, just maybe, they had taken their lead from the antique demeanour of their hero Rafter, who sometimes seems to have stepped straight out of a 1950s news reel film on Australian tennis glory.

Rafter is the type of bloke who makes you feel proud to be Australian.

Not because he has film-star good looks, or the perfect serve-volley game, or because of his overt patriotism.

It is the simple, unaffected way he says "sorry mate" to his opponents when he is unhappy with his ball toss and lets the ball fall to the court rather than hammering it in to play.

There, in two words, is just about everything you need to know about him. Gracious performer, proud Australian. They are the sorts of things we would like to think about ourselves.

Partly, they are why you did not feel too bad for him in his moment of disappointment. Had Ivanisevic lost again, particularly after twice double-faulting on match point, there is every chance he would have made good his threat to jump from a bridge.

Rafter let out a few expletives in the locker-room, then washed away the taste of disappointment with a few cold beers.

Which is not to say Rafter will not find this defeat difficult to reconcile. Losing to Pete Sampras last year had been a wild ride that finished one stop short. This was destiny unfulfilled.

But, because he is just so damn normal, so seemingly at ease with himself, it was almost impossible to feel bad for him.

While winning here might have elevated Rafter to the ranks of great Australian players, the manner of his defeat and the grace with which it was handled will ensure he is never cast as a loser.

Another great Australian, Ken Rosewell, lost four times here and no-one thought that of him.

Perhaps a greater mark of his career is that Rafter's exemplary behaviour has made an impact on his countrymen, and they on him. "I'm proud of them, the way they conducted themselves," he said. "They're great losers as well."

Rafter a winner even after loss

By STEPHEN DABKOWSKI

Tuesday 10 July 2001

Pat Rafter might not have completed a fairytale victory at Wimbledon last night, but no matter, he has already achieved something rare in the marketing world. The sports management gurus believe his appeal with be long-lasting.

Winning Wimbledon normally guarantees the victor a few million dollars in bonus payments from sponsors and endorsement companies. But the consultants believe Rafter transcends the quick grab for money that normally follows a good Wimbledon campaign.

Channel Nine illustrated the love affair that Australians now have with Rafter, dispensing with normal programming to show the final live from 8.30pm. What makes Rafter so special in marketing terms is that he's seen as the complete package - a great player, yet gracious and humble. He breaks the rule that good guys finish last. Rafter might also turn out to be the exception to another marketing rule. Retirement, which the Queenslander is contemplating for next year, normally spells the end of commercial interest in a tennis player.

But the deal makers believe there will always be corporate desire in being associated with Rafter because of his clean image.

Sports consultant Lynne Anderson believes Rafter, and possibly swimmer Ian Thorpe, who has a similar personality, stand alone in their marketability among local sports stars.

"I think Pat Rafter is priceless at the moment because he represents almost the ideal sporting property," she said.

"His image is just so clean and positive, and there is also that great fightback quality."

A threat of retirement by Rafter has just heightened the interest in this year's Wimbledon, according to Anderson, which us why she believes Channel Nine must be "filthy they didn't get more advertising dollars".

She believes retirement could open up Rafter's appeal to a wider list of corporate clients interested in being associated with his image.

"He's in that transition phase where companies could grab a great opportunity because he could actually be available instead of playing," she said.

"I mean, companies would have to pay for it, but if they work it right and have the right product or service to link with him, this guy would be perfect.

"Given the recent corporate failures, I think we all realise that corporate Australia is going to have to think about doing the right thing, have greater transparency, and any company that was looking to put into place some good-cause-related marketing and show a real commitment to a cause I can see him (Rafter) slotting in well."

Rafter, who is managed by United States-based SFX sports management, is already one of the highest-paid sports starts in Australia, having earned $9.5 million last year, according to tennis magazine Ace.

He supports several causes, and pumps millions into the Cherish the Children Foundation, a charity run by his sister Louise.

Steve Frazer, managing director of sports management giant Octagon, had a chance of signing Pat Rafter some years ago, but missed out, which he's honest enough to now lament. "Can I have my time over again?" he joked yesterday.

"Patrick is the consummate class act, the classic Australian," he said. "He's a fairytale really."

Success at this year's Wimbledon, especially another epic victory in the semi-final against Andre Agassi, is crucial to Rafter's place in history, according to Frazer.

"The players still recognise Wimbledon as the elite event, and there is still more focus on it than any of the other grand-slam events," he said.

"Let's be clear there is no monetary motivation in Pat Rafter's performance in Wimbledon. It is the icing on a very fat cake."

You are a great man, my son  accompanying pics
By JIM RAFTER
11jul01
IN sport, someone always wins. At Wimbledon, Patrick Rafter didn't.

But as far as I'm concerned, Patrick is a winner. He is the epitome of a good sportsman.
I am so proud of Pat's achievements, but I'm even more proud of the man that he is. The way he handles defeat, I believe, makes him a great man.

I want to make this point because sometimes, when fans want someone to win so much, there can be a bad reaction when they don't.

I saw this happen in London to Tim Henman. When Henman got beaten, the press and the fans crucified him.

They reckoned he was a loser, he couldn't fight, he couldn't do this, he couldn't do that.

That was unfair to that lad. He put up a good fight and he deserved better.

I'm conscious that can happen anywhere and I realise fans can be pretty fickle.

So this is from the heart.

This man is not a loser. You've got to realise that the man you've got here, he's a pretty rare item in elite sports.

He's a public figure, and he behaves as a public figure, I believe, should behave.

It's so refreshing at that level to see an elite sportsman who handles defeat as well as he does, when his whole heart and soul is set on winning.

He can congratulate the other party and mean it.

He is not superficial and nor are his actions. He can conduct himself in such a manner that you can think, well, this bloke is still a winner even though he might have lost a match.

That's what I admire so much in him.

I want people to understand where I stand – I've never been more proud.

He is a true warrior out there on the court. He is out there to win, but he's never out there to win at any cost.

To me, this is the philosophy that he has and he is genuine and inspiring.

We'd like to think that essentially the man that he is comes from the family he has grown up in.

Being a member of a large family, I believe you have to battle more, there has to be a mutual trust in the family and there's a responsibility for each other.

There's no opportunity to become spoilt or selfish.

We talk about these things all the time – how you have to give 100 per cent to do what you do, and if it doesn't work you've got to get on with life.

You can't get around feeling that you've been hard done by just because you didn't win.

In Pat's case, he's competing at an elite level so it's more obvious when he doesn't win.

But it's also more difficult to accept defeat when you believe you've got to win and believe you should win, which is why we're so proud and admire Pat's behaviour.

Each family member is right behind Pat and supporting him in what he does.

They're all pleased that he's doing well and no one is jealous of the fact that he's got money and they're as broke as the rest of us.

I believe that in any large family where there's a genuine love for each other, these are the qualities that flow through to each of the children.

I think all these things have contributed to the kind of person Pat is, as well as the nature of his upbringing here in this country.

In Australia, we've got a person leading the Australian cricketers, Steve Waugh, who I think is probably a similar sort of person to Pat, along with John Eales leading the Wallabies rugby side. These are men of real character and we're lucky we've got them.

We should never turn on them. I'm saying this in case there's an attitude out there in the public arena that this bloke is a loser.

I know he's been beaten two years in a row now at Wimbledon. But players can either stand back with a long face and curse the umpires or the linespeople – and we had examples of that right through this week – or they can get out there and be part of what's happening.

I remember last year the way Pat behaved also made me very proud.

Pat helped Pete Sampras celebrate his win.

He participated in the ceremony after the match.

That's what Pat does.

He did it again after losing to Goran Ivanisevic.

It's special, I believe.

He has naturally got a very quiet personality, he's very quietly spoken.

He's not an extrovert. He's always a gentleman. And in this case, especially, he was a winner and made us proud.

END