ESPN.com - INSIDER - Hometown win will have to wait another year

COMMUNITY
	Send a letter
BACKSTAGE
	The Magazine


		ALSO SEE Defending champ Agassi back in Aussie final Sweating, cramping ... Rafter will be tested for answers Trim Agassi a heavy favorite in Australian Open final

ESPN.com
NFL

Saturday, January 27
Hometown win will have to wait another year

Reuters

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The prospects had looked bright as Australia, led by a trio of high-profile men, prepared to repel the foreign invasion and end a frustrating run at their home Grand Slam.

Twice U.S Open champion Patrick Rafter, world No. 7 seven Lleyton Hewitt and the big-hitting Mark Philippoussis carried home hopes as the old season ended and attention turned to this year's Australian Open.

On the women's side there was also much to look forward to in the talented if controversial Jelena Dokic, the world No. 25.

An Australian man had not lifted the title since 1976 when Mark Edmondson beat John Newcombe in the final. The last Australian woman to win her home Grand Slam crown was Chris O'Neill in 1978.

But by the time the finalists had been decided, the local campaign had turned into an Australian Open tale of woe.

Philippoussis did not even make it to the start line, ruled out for the Australian summer after undergoing surgery for ongoing knee problems.

Dokic, who had established herself as Australia's top women's player after migrating from her native Yugoslavia, decided on the eve of the tournament to play for the country of her birth after yet further run-ins with local tennis authorities and media.

Fast-rising teen-ager Hewitt, the winner of seven career tournaments and a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in September, came in as the leading Australian but crashed out in the third round to Spaniard Carlos Moya.

And Rafter, with retirement beckoning at the end of the year, led defending champion Andre Agassi two sets to one in the semifinals on Thursday only to be hit by cramps and lose in five sets.

It was the second time in a little over a month that Rafter, the 12th seed in Melbourne, had fallen victim to cramp.

On the opening day of last month's Davis Cup final in Barcelona he was forced to pull out of the second singles match against Juan Carlos Ferrero with a similar problem. Spain went on to win the Cup.

This latest occasion has left the 28-year-old Rafter, who perspires profusely in his matches, looking for answers.

"To fall short because of some physical imbalance is very frustrating," Rafter said.

"It's been two of the biggest matches now in my career I've fallen to cramps. It's something that has got to be looked at very quickly."

Rafter's courage is unquestioned. Despite being barely able to walk in the last two sets, he was determined to at least finish the match.

"I wasn't going to walk off possibly playing my last match of the Australian Open with injury. I was going to play it out, whether I lose 6-0 or whatever. But I knew I was buggered," said the Australian, who was given a huge reception at the end.

"It's tough when you want to chase it down, but your legs just seize up.

"My heart feels fine. It feels like it wants to run. I want to run, but my legs just won't do it. I try to push off, I just seize up and they cramp."

Despite the cramp problems the hugely popular Rafter has posted some strong results after undergoing shoulder surgery in late 1999.

His semifinal showing in Melbourne was his best performance at the Australian Open, after having never gone beyond the fourth round in eight previous appearances.

Ranked number 15 on the ATP Tour's entry system, Rafter also made last year's Wimbledon final, losing to Pete Sampras after beating Agassi in a five-set semifinal.

But life beyond the confines of a tennis court is starting to look extremely enticing for the laid-back Australian.

Rafter, who briefly rose to the world number one ranking in the middle of 1999, will play this year before taking an extended break.

"I never really want to say this is definite retirement. I'm going to take a long break and see what happens," said Rafter, whose outside interests include the environment and his children's charity.

"I want to do well (this year). I'd love to be able to leave the game saying it was a great year and I'm glad to leave."

He added: "I'm someone who tries to put life in perspective a lot. Tennis has been great, but it's not my whole life."

In the meantime, Rafter and Hewitt are expected to spearhead Australia's team for the Davis Cup first round tie against Ecuador in Perth next month.

The future is less clear for Dokic, who has represented Australia in Fed Cup and at the Sydney Olympics but played under the Yugoslav flag here after saying at the start of the tournament that she intended to leave Australia and move to Florida immediately after the Grand Slam event.

Local media reported on Thursday that talks between Dokic, her controversial father Damir and Tennis Australia had not altered her representative plans, although her management has not ruled out a Fed Cup start for Australia in April.

Meanwhile, Philippoussis is expected to return to tournament play in Memphis next month but will miss the Davis Cup tie in Perth.


		ESPN INSIDER Copyright 1995-2000 ESPN/Starwave Partners d/b/a ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form. ESPN.com Privacy Policy. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service.