November (30/11/2001)
Rafter wins first match at DC
Patrick Rafter found the perfect reply to Lleyton Hewitt's shock loss in the opening singles rubber by defeating French No. 1 Sebastien Grosjean in straight sets to ensure that the Davis Cup Final is level after day one. The 28-year-old breezed past the Tennis Masters Cup finalist 6-3 7-6(6) 7-5 and looked on top grass court form as he delighted his fans to win his first match in a Davis Cup Final.
(22/11/2001)
Patrick Rafter, Australian Legend
It was hard to know whether it was a fitting finale or a somewhat of an anti-climax. Perhaps it was both. Patrick Rafter's last tournament match before his sabbatical was played last Friday before 16,800 people at Sydney's SuperDome at the Tennis Masters Cup - the biggest single-stadium tennis crowd in Australia for nearly 50 years.
Rafter's three consecutive round-robin losses - in part due to his lack of match practice leading into the tournament - was undoubtedly a disappointing end to an impressive season and an outstanding career. But his final loss to Hewitt, which resulted in the 20-year-old's ascension to world No.1, symbolically represented the passing of the baton from the revered Australian legend to his heir apparent.
Of the 16,800 people who attended, just as many came to farewell Rafter as did to witness Hewitt's coronation as the youngest year-end world No.1 in ATP history (since 1973). ATP Chief Executive Officer Mark Miles articulated the emotion in the cavernous stadium during the presentation of the ATP Champions Race trophy to Hewitt after the match. "Although this is Lleyton's night, there is still a lot of love in this building for you," Miles said to Rafter, drawing an enormous cheer from fans.
Although Hewitt offers Australian tennis fans a new hero to worship in coming years, Rafter will be sorely missed. While Hewitt and Australia's other leading player Mark Philippoussis have polarized public opinion during their young careers, Rafter was universally admired and respected.
From his award-winning sportsmanship qualities (including correcting calls in favor of his opponent), to his large charitable donations (which he tried to keep out of the news) and hands-on work for children's charities, Rafter has been a perfect role model as a sportsman and as a human being. Two US Open titles and two Wimbledon finals have not changed this humble country boy from the outback Queensland mining town of Mt. Isa.
And then there was his tennis. The best serve/volleyer since Stefan Edberg, Rafter's sure hands and acrobatics at the net will be fondly remembered by fans seeking more variety to the baseline-dominated era which Rafter dared to defy in his climb to No.1. In recent years his epic contests with Andre Agassi - including back-to-back five-set Wimbledon semi-final victories - have proved just as riveting as the celebrated Sampras/Agassi rivalry.
Before packing the RV for his holiday around Australia, Rafter has one more on-court duty. Rafter will reunite with Hewitt, two of the most passionate Davis Cuppers Australia has ever produced in its long and proud history, for the final at Melbourne Park against France. After his shoulder injury sidelined him from Australia's victory over the French in the 1999 final, the 2001 final could prove to be an unequivocal fitting finale to Rafter's career.
(16/11/2001)
Update on Pat's Condition
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(14/11/2001)
Grosjean beats Rafter
Pat was defeated for the second time at the Tennis Masters Cup. He succomed to Sebastien Grosjean, 6-7, 3-6. This loss has now cancelled any hopes of Pat entering into the semifinal round.
Here is the article:
Grosjean Stuns Rafter
Nov 14, 2001To complete a great day for the young generation, Sebastien Grosjean followed Lleyton Hewitt's win over Andre Agassi with a defeat of Patrick Rafter. The Frenchman won 7-6(4), 6-3 and now stands tied with Agassi for second place in the John Newcombe Group. He meets the American on Thursday for a place in the semifinals.
After going down to Hewitt in three tough sets on the opening day, Grosjean came out firing early against Rafter and took a 4-2 lead. The Australian hit back to force a tie-break, but Grosjean's passing shots were just too precise, and Rafter could do nothing to stop himself going a set behind.
Clearly struggling with injuries to his shoulder and forearm, Rafter was unable to penetrate the Frenchman's baseline defence in the second set either, and as against Agassi on the opening day, the popular Australian went down in straight sets.
For Rafter, qualification for the semifinals is no longer a possibility, but his final match is still of enormous importance. With Friday's opponent Lleyton Hewitt breathing down the neck of Gustavo Kuerten in the ATP Champions Race 2001, the 20 points on offer to the winner could be vital to the outcome of the year-end number one position.
(12/11/2001)
Agassi Fires Past Rafter
Andre Agassi came out firing against Patrick Rafter to win through 6-2, 6-4 on Monday at the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney. The American joins Lleyton Hewitt at the head of the John Newcombe Group and remains in the hunt for the year-end number one spot.
Just 87 points behind ATP Champions Race 2001 leader Gustavo Kuerten when the action began, third placed Agassi narrowed the gap to 67 points and closed up on second placed Hewitt, who also won on day one.
Rafter and Agassi struggled to hit top form as they tried to mirror the excitement of previous meetings. Agassi hadn't played since becoming a father shortly after Tennis Masters Series Stuttgart, and Rafter's last action was in his country's Davis Cup semifinal against Sweden in September. But the match still had its moments. Rafter broke early to lead 2-0, and Agassi hit back immediately to take six games in a row and the first set.
In the first game of the second set, Agassi again threatened the Australian's serve, and while Rafter stood firm, he couldn't hold off the American in his next service game.
Rafter showed brief glimpses of what he could do to level at 2-2. Mixing up his preferred net-attack with impressive patience from the baseline, Rafter seemed to be getting a foot-hold in the match, but at 4-4, a double fault cost him his serve and Agassi went on to take the match.
Rafter will play the other two players in his group, and if he wins both matches, he advances to the semifinals.
(08/11/2001)
The Masters Cup Draw
THE KEN ROSEWALL GROUP
1.Gustavo Kuerten
4.Juan Carlos Ferrero
5.Yevgeny Kafelnikov
8.Goran Ivanisevic
THE JOHN NEWCOMBE GROUP
2.Lleyton Hewitt
3.Andre Agassi
6.Patrick Rafer
7.Sabastien Grosjean
(08/11/2001)
Vote for Pat as Sexiest Athlete of the Year
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