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Newcombe gives Rafter fax of life

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Posted: Tuesday June 23, 1998 08:43 PM

Rafter: "He [Newcombe] said a few encouraging words and gave me a few things to do mentally, and from then on everything seemed to go right and I started playing great." (AP)

LONDON (Reuters) -- Three-time Wimbledon winner John Newcombe can take at least some of the credit for the rejuvenated Pat Rafter, who overwhelmed Ivo Heuberger 6-1, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in the first round on Tuesday.

After a first-round exit at the Queen's Club two weeks ago the U.S. Open champion spoke of the lack of motivation and confidence which was hampering his tennis. Rafter seemed on the verge of pulling out of Wimbledon.

But a fax from Newcombe restored his Australian compatriot's confidence. Rafter responded with only his second tournament victory of the year last week at Den Bosch in the Netherlands and some inspired tennis against Heuberger.

"He said a few encouraging words and gave me a few things to do mentally," said Rafter. "And from then on everything seemed to go right and I started playing great.

"Sometimes it's a fine line for me between snapping and taking information like that on board. This time I thought I'd give it a go instead of getting mad about the fax, screwing it up and throwing it in the bin.

"It makes a difference when someone you respect tells you things, even though it's the same information as I was getting from [former Wimbledon finalist] Tony Roche and my dad," Rafter said. "Now I've got my happiness back on court and when I have that I start playing well. The first two sets today were as good as I am going to play."

After the Queen's fiasco, fellow Australian Mark Woodforde indicated that he thought Rafter's problem was that he carried the expectations of Australia after he won the U.S. Open last year.

"I think having that real down bit made people realize that I can't win all the time and some of the weight came off," said Rafter. "I started to think that people did not expect quite so much of me and now I feel very relaxed."

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