How Rafter made 'ratbag' Federer 'turn to water'

1 year ago 80

Australian tennis large Pat Rafter says Roger Federer was a "ratbag" erstwhile helium archetypal emerged connected the tour, lifting the lid connected a fiery aboriginal match-up with the Swiss phenom.

Rafter is 1 of precise fewer players to beryllium unbeaten against Federer, holding a 3-0 vocation grounds against the eventual 20-time expansive slam champ.

The archetypal of the pair's meetings came astatine Roland-Garros successful 1999, erstwhile Rafter emerged a victor successful 4 sets aft Federer took the opener successful a tiebreak.

Rafter recalled learning astir Federer, a wildcard for the tournament, up of the clash done Lleyton Hewitt, who was besides rising up the ranks arsenic a youngster astatine the time.

"Lleyton said 'he's bloody good'," Rafter told Wide World of Sports' The Happy Slam podcast.

"He (Hewitt) played a batch of him (Federer) successful juniors and I was connected the circuit astatine that signifier and helium said, 'watch out, this guy's good'."

Rafter revealed however Federer riled him up aft taking the opening set, but helium past turned the Swiss youngster "to water".

"I was not connected my champion surface, but there's nary mode I'm losing to this guy," helium said.

"I spell retired determination good and helium breaks maine astatine five-all and helium gets a spot excited. I get into his grill a small bit, and I get a spot upset and I get into his look and helium turned to water.

Listen to each six episodes of The Happy Slam podcast on Apple and on Spotify, featuring in-depth interviews with tennis legends Pat Rafter, Jelena Dokic, Jim Courier, Dylan Alcott, Todd Woodbridge, and Australia's existent apical WTA subordinate Ajla Tomljanovic.

"He was beauteous brushed backmost past and that was his downside, which was precise good for me, and it took him a small portion to mature.

"I got to play him a mates much times earlier I finished and helium conscionable seems to get amended and better.

"Not to accidental (he was) overmuch better, but knowing who helium was and however helium was going to mentally play these matches."

Rafter revealed the infinitesimal helium knew however peculiar Federer could become.

"I played him 1 week successful 2001 successful my past twelvemonth and helium had lucifer points (against) maine successful Germany connected grass," helium said.

"Then helium went connected to bushed (Pete) Sampras astatine Wimbledon the adjacent week and it's like, this kid is starting to believe."

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Federer called clip connected his illustrious vocation successful 2022 and retired arsenic tennis' consummate nonrecreational and the eventual gentleman, but Rafter recalled however that was not ever the case.

"We ever deliberation of him arsenic the eventual man and helium has been for the past 15 years, but his archetypal 5 years helium was soft," helium said.

"He was a ratbag and helium was surely nary man of the athletics then, but helium was learning and finding retired who helium was arsenic a young lad dealing with each the pressures and expectations."

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