May (30/05/2002)
Rafter's girlfriend gives thumbs up to tennis star's comeback
SYDNEY (AFP) - The pregnant girlfriend of former U.S. Open champion Pat Rafter said Wednesday she would not stand in his way if the tennis star wanted to make a comeback to the professional tour after the birth of their child.
"If he wants to go back to his tennis, I'll be 100 percent supportive because I think it's really worth it, and it would only be another few years," Lara Feltham told the Australian Women's Weekly Wednesday.
"It's always worth having a go. It would be foolish to say no. It would be great for him to achieve what he wants to achieve."
However, the 29-year-old Rafter said last month he was enjoying life off the tennis circuit after being forced to take a sabbatical because of his recurring shoulder and elbow injuries.
"There comes a time for everyone where they feel that they've had enough, that they feel mentally that they don't want to go out there and do the grind," he said.
"I'm not really missing the hard work and the pressure. Sometimes I feel like I'm beating a dead horse when I'm trying to train."
Feltham is expecting their child in July during the Wimbledon championships which Rafter failed narrowly to win, losing in the final in the last two years.
Rafter has also ruled out making a comeback for Australia against India in their Davis Cup world group qualifying tie in September, although Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said he had not given up hope of persuading him back.
The winner of the September playoff qualifies for next year's world group.
Australia, which had played in the past three Davis Cup finals, was forced into the playoffs when a sick Lleyton Hewitt and an injured Rafter abandoned ship and it lost to Argentina in Buenos Aires in the first round.
World No. 1 Hewitt will be back to face India.
Rafter, twice winner of the U.S. Open, dropped out of tennis with a chronic elbow and shoulder injury after Australia lost the Davis Cup final to France in Melbourne in December.
(10/05/2002)
Article from The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA)
10 May 2002"Hey, you don't look like my dad!"
Pat Rafter went through one of his best training sessions yesterday - but not on a tennis court.
It was at a baby-settling unit where five-month old James Smith won game, set and match. Rafter and girlfriend Lara Feltham are due to have a baby in July, so the dual US Open winner paid close attention as he toured the unit at Torrens House in South Terrace.
He is in Adelaide as part of his Australian of the Year duties while Lara is in Sydney.
"I'm not changing nappies, am I?" Rafter jokingly asked at the complex which provides advice on caring for babies. While talking to mums and holding their babies, he asked: "Do boys sit lower in the womb?"
No, they said, that was just an old wives' tale.
Asked whether he knew the sex of his unborn baby, Rafter said: "We had all the tests but we didn't want to know what it was. We'll just wait for the surprise.
"But if we have a girl, then she'll love her dad more because girls always love their dad."
But he refused to say whether they had a short list of names.
"We won't even tell my family", he said with a grin.
"There are too many opinions, it gets too confusing and no-one is happy."
He also revealed he would be at the birth because "If I miss it, Lara will kill me".
Baby James Smith had something in common with the tennis star.
His mum, Kim, 20, of St Mary's, thought she was in labour with him while at the Davis Cup final against France at Melbourne Park in December.
"It was a false alarm, but I didn't see the rest of the tennis", she said.
Mrs Smith is good friends with Lleyton Hewitt and has been given a racquet by his girlfriend, Kim Clijsters.
As for Rafter, he thinks being a dad will come down to "instinct".
"And if I need any help, I'll just ask my parents", he said.
