Peaking Patrick
Rafter pleased with his game as U.S. Open defense nears
Posted: Monday August 24, 1998 07:51 PM
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Rafter defeated Greg Rusedski of Britain in last year's title match Clive Brunksill/Allsport |
NEW YORK (AP) -- Patrick Rafter says he is peaking just at the right time to defend his U.S. Open men's singles title next week.
"It feels good going into a Grand Slam knowing that I can put two good weeks of tennis together," Rafter said of winning back-to-back titles this month at the Canadian Open and ATP Championship.
Rafter beat six of the world's top 20 players in sweeping the two hardcourt tournaments. In the ATP Championship final, the No. 3-ranked Rafter outlasted No. 1 Pete Sampras in three sets, breaking an eight-match losing streak to the American.
"I put together some of my best tennis ever those two weeks, similar to the way I played at the U.S. Open last year," Rafter said of his unexpected run through the Open last year to win his first Grand Slam tournament title.
"I begin this U.S. Open with a better chance than last year, but that doesn't mean that I am going to win it," Rafter said at a promotional appearance Monday.
When Rafter defeated Greg Rusedski of Britain in last year's title match, he added his name to a list of fellow Australians, like Rod Laver and Lew Hoad, who have won the championship. And it was some words of encouragement earlier this year from the last Australian to win the U.S. Open, 1973 champion John Newcombe, that helped fuel his recent strong play, according to Rafter.
"I got this fax from him right before Wimbledon saying that I was getting off the rails a little bit and that I should stop being hard on myself," said the 26-year-old Rafter. "I was showing too much frustration and the wrong kind of emotions."
Before Newcombe's message, Rafter had a 19-13 won-lost match record. Since then, he has gone 21-3, losing most recently at New Haven, Connecticut, last week in the third round.
Rafter will look to get back on the winning track this week at the Hamlet Cup in Commack, New York. The tournament's No. 2 seed is scheduled to play Javier Sanchez of Spain on Tuesday.
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