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Pat's prerogative Tennis world should respect Rafter's wishes
Updated: Friday August 24, 2001 3:12 PM
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 him through 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. Jason Dasey is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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