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On second thought... Rafter rethinking retirement vow after defeat
LONDON (Reuters) -- Australian Pat Rafter backed away from talk of retirement after losing the Wimbledon final in five sets against Croatian wild card Goran Ivanisevic on Monday. "I'll be taking time off at the end of the year," Rafter said. When asked whether he would return to Wimbledon, the 28-year-old said: "Who knows?" Rafter, seeded third, had hinted this was his last Wimbledon and he could retire at the end of the year because of a series of injuries, including a bad shoulder. Rafter said his shoulder was okay and he had "felt it once or twice." The Australian said he had really enjoyed playing in the "People's Final" on Centre Court after tickets were handed out to fans on a first come, first served basis. "It was an amazing, amazing atmosphere and it was a lot of fun," he said. "I don't know if Wimbledon has seen anything like it or will again. It was electric. This is what we play for, this is what it's all about -- it was so much fun. "I wanted to win this time, I was really close this time but it was taken out of my hands -- he served really well when he had to. "You've got to take your hat off [to him] -- that's the way it goes. "He was just serving really well, it's not much fun down the other end trying to get it back."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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