Wednesday, August 08, 2001
Tennis losing grip on Rafter
Australian plans six-month break as desire wanes
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — Patrick Rafter does not know exactly when he will begin his six-month break from tennis. He doesn't know what he will do during that time. Or where he will live. Or whether he willreturn to the ATP Tour.
Patrick Rafter
(AP photo)
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What he knows for certain is this: He hopes like heck he doesn't miss playing.
Brace yourself, this could be Rafter's last stand here.
The No.8 seed defeated Albert Portas 7-5, 6-3 in his first-round match at the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati on Tuesday. He plays Xavier Malisse today.
It's been a frustrating year for Rafter, who has come close but has no titles.
He lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open and Ericsson Open in Miami — both to Andre Agassi. He lost in five sets to Goran Ivanisevic in the Wimbledon final. He lost Sunday to Andrei Pavel in the final at the Tennis Masters Series Canada.
“That sort of does become annoying after a while, that's for sure,” Rafter said.
“Wimbledon was something different. We were both very, very fired up to win that. But I've played some other finals ... and just really not applied myself in the best way that I could. I just approach it like any other match. Might be doing it wrong, I guess.”
In January, Rafter said that he planned to leave tennis at the end of the year, saying he had “other things to do in my life.”
Rafter would like to be one of the top eight players in the ATP Champions Race and qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney in November. He wants to lead Australia to a Davis Cup title; the semifinals against Sweden are in September with the finals in December.
A good example of Rafter's attitude: While Pete Sampras talked about needing to train harder to keep up with younger players, Rafter said he fired his trainer and doesn't want to go through that anymore.
“It's great for Pete if he wants to keep doing it,” Rafter said. “For me, I'm sick of doing it.
“I am enjoying myself as much as you can, playing a sport that is your job.... Sometimes you just don't want to show up on the court, and sometimes you don't want to perform.”
Want to know what else the media learned Tuesday?
Q: During your six months off, will you pick up a racket?
A: No idea.
Q: What if after three months you decide you're missing it?
A: No idea.
Q: When do your six months off begin?
A: No idea.
Q: Are you going to be spending it in Bermuda or Australia?
A: I don't know.
Q: You have this pretty well mapped out?
A: I certainly do.
Rafter, 28, has won the U.S. Open twice and owns two Tennis Masters Series titles, including Cincinnati in 1998. He has been ranked No.1 in the world and earned more than $10 million in prize money. He has 10 career singles titles and 10 career doubles titles. Rafter is one of the tour's most pleasant personalities and a great ambassador for the sport. No question, he can walk away fulfilled.
“I never expected the success anything like what I've achieved,” Rafter said. “Nothing like it.”
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