Loss Drains Rafter, Australians

Tennis fans here can be forgiven their overdose of hyperbole today, their weeping at the loss of national hero Patrick Rafter on Saturday night.

The 1 1/2 inches of rain that fell during a violent overnight storm already is being ascribed to “tears from heaven”--a reaction to Rafter’s third-round loss. An overstatement, yes, but nevertheless an accurate reflection of Australia’s hope that the second-seeded Rafter might win his national championship. Unseeded Alberto Berasategui put an end to that with his 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (9-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) victory.

In the end, Rafter was done in by cumulative fatigue and mounting pressure. Since winning the U.S. Open last September, expectations of Rafter have been high.

After winning the first set Saturday night, Rafter was less successful in following his serves to the net and decidedly unsuccessful at preventing Berasategui from running around his backhand to hit a potent forehand.

Taking a two-set lead was critical to Rafter, who had spent more than twice the amount of time on court than other seeded players. His serve-and-volley game demands much of him physically and his propensity to sweat a lot robs him of vital fluids. He was a point from a double break and a 5-1 lead in the set and, after that slipped away, still had three set points, all of which he squandered.

“At that stage, I didn’t think I was going to win,” Berasategui said. “When I made the break, at that moment I thought the match could change. I was thinking that if I took the second set, that he was a little bit tired. That was the key to the match.”

Once the Spaniard took the tiebreaker, everyone in the packed center court knew Rafter was in deep trouble.

“If I had won the second set, the whole match would have changed,” Rafter said. “The whole game would have shifted. I put a lot into it mentally. I was too defensive the whole match, too negative. I never felt comfortable from the word go.”

Berasategui is too experienced a player not to take advantage. He ran Rafter mercilessly around the court. Whereas Rafter was sweating profusely, Berasategui seemed dry and composed.

Rafter needed an injury timeout while a trainer tended to blisters on his left foot. He played the rest of the match wincing in pain from various injuries.

Many here, including Rafter, had gotten ahead of themselves and had Rafter playing Andre Agassi in the fourth round, bypassing No. 25 Berasategui.

“Well, most of the people, or everyone, was thinking that it was going to be Agassi-Rafter,” Berasategui said, smiling. “I knew I had my chances and today I took them. I’m sorry for the Australian crowd.”

Berasategui came out to serve for the match and a large segment of the crowd began to sing the national anthem and “Waltzing Matilda,” a song that jerks a tear from even the most hardened Bushman’s eye. Rafter was moved.

“Oh, it was good,” he said. “They had a terrible bloody voice, but it was good. I sort of looked up and tried to suck it up a little bit. It was nice. It gives you a sense of national pride.”

Where Rafter’s national pride left off, his national character kicked in. “I’m going to go back and relax,” Rafter said. “I’m going to have a few beers, I think. That’s what I need. That’s what I’ve been missing.”

The fun-loving 25-year-old acknowledged he planned to hit the beach and go surfing. Rafter may have lost, but it’s a big country. Somewhere, the sun was shining.