Goo-goo-eyed female fans may hold signs that read, PAT RAFTER,
WE'LL SEE YOU AFTER! But since Rafter won last year's U.S. Open
and became an overnight sex symbol, his postmatch demeanor has
often been glum. After starting 1998 at No. 2, by Wimbledon,
Rafter had dropped out of the top five and endured an ignominious
stretch of five losses in six matches to foes such as Brian
MacPhie and Sjeng Schalken. "There are a lot more pressures on me
now than a year ago," he says. "It's hard to deal with everything
and not let it affect your game."
He's learning. After blitzing through the du Maurier Open two
weeks ago without losing a set, Rafter beat Pete Sampras for the
first time in five years to win the ATP Championships on Sunday.
By laying claim to two Super Nine events in as many weeks, Rafter
picked up more than $700,000 and 242 ranking points—putting him
only 171 from the top spot—and emerged as a solid pick to
successfully defend his title at Flushing Meadows. "When you're
playing like this," says Rafter, who has won 10 consecutive
matches, including five against top 10 foes, "you almost don't
know how to lose."
Issue date: August 24, 1998
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