DL = David Letterman

PR = Patrick Rafter

(Clip of Rafter's last volley and him collapsing on the court afterwards.)

DL : Hey yesterday our next guest won the US Open to win his first ever Grand Slam Title and becoming the first Australian in almost two decades. Please welcome reigning US Open Champion Patrick Rafter.

(Rafter comes on wearing a white T-Shirt covered by a it looked like black denin type jacket and soft black jeans. )

DL : How's it going? Congratulations.

PR : Thank You.

DL : I say, it's quite a story isn't it?

PR : Oh I tell ya. It's amazing. I can't believe it.

DL : How many times ... is this the first time you've competed in this tournament. you've been here before --

PR : My fifth time --

DL : Your fifth time. So you know about it. You know what the drill is. But you really didn't expect to do this well did you?

PR : Ah.. no I was planning a great vacation in Bermuda for two weeks but as it turned out I got through the first round and things just went from there.

DL : Where were you ranked before the tournament?

PR : uhh.. number 14

DL : But that's pretty good though.

PR : Yeah it was great for me though. It was my highest ever ranking and I was happy being there.

DL : When did you start getting the feeling gee things might go my way?

PR : Yesterday. (laugh)

(Crowd laughs and claps)

DL : Good for you. Do you know what the winning moment was? It's got to be a blur. You're so full of adrenaline, full of sweat and things going on. Do you remember much of what you did there on winning point?

PR : Yeah I was aware of what I was doing. I wanted to lie on the court. I remember I wanted to lie on court. I remember watching Bjorn Borg doing it and that was cool.

DL : Everyone wants to drop on their knees (raises his fists)

PR : Yeah they do that. I just wanted to lay there all day.

DL : Yeah.

PR : Then I saw Becker --

DL : Boris --

PR : Yeah.. throw his racquet into the crowd when he won the US Open and I thought that was cool so I'd do that too. Looks pretty cool too. (laugh)

(crowd laughs)

(DL says one word here but the crowd was laughing so loud I missed it)

PR : It was a very soft throw. Then Cash jumped into the crowd in '87 Wimbledon so I thought I'm going to do that too so uhh..

DL : So for you now.. uhh.. when you see how other people who've won this tournament how they react after going through this two week ordeal. At what point do people in the crowd start rooting for you?

PR : Well the first few matches I played some French and Swedish people and the crowds were smaller.. 3 maybe 3-4 thousand people --

DL : Nobody cares about the French or the Swedes. So you can keep your atrendence down. nobody's coming out to see the French or the Swedes play.

PR : or the Aussies.

DL : Oh they're coming out to see the Aussies play.

PR : so uhh.. (pause) uhh.. what was the question again? [Highlight of the interview I though *grin* ]

(crows laughs. Pat looks sheepish)

DL : The crowd. When did they start rooting for you? I'm guessing in previous matches , if not for you certainly not with you?

PR : Yeah the Andre Agassi match was probably the toughest match. I had to play Andre in front of 21 something screaming New Yorkers.

DL : Can this guy still play?

PR : I believe he can come back to where he was. probably a little fear.

DL : Well there you go. The champ. He can say any damn thing he wants.

PR : Mind you I was the one cramping in the match.

DL : But was this a difficult thing for you to deal with these guys? Oh in your mind think I can beat this guy?

PR : Andre? Oh I know I was in for a very rough match and I know the crowd would play a very rough part and they did and they were starting to get him back intot he match.

DL : What dod he say to you after the tournament?

PR : He didn't say it to me. he said it to the press that Rafter cannot win the tournament and I so.. I was going second in the interview so I had a chance to hear what he had to say so they asked me what i thought about what Andre had said so I said that's the worst match I've played all week. That's what I said. (laugh) I actually played well. I had one major chance. I was in the quarterfinals and I was one of the guys but I never thought it would be me.

DL : So you're one of the guys Mr. Big Shot. you've won a Grand Slam. Your ranking has jumped completely. What is it? Sampras.. he still number 1?

PR: Yeah Sampras....

DL : Then Chang is number 2.. then you. you're keeping pretty good company.

PR : I think so.

DL : Of couse at home.. who was that last Australian to win the tournament some 20 years ago? Do you remember?

PR : John Newcombe.

DL : I thought John Newcombe or Rod Laver (Note DL pronounced this Live-er) thought be Laver. They must be going crazy over there in Australia. When do you get to go home?

PR : Late November.

DL : The country must be going upside down for you.

PR : Apparently they are.

DL : What are you now, what do you do? How much money you made.. 600,000 --

PR : 650,000.. yeah the 50,000 (laugh) We have Davis Cup coming up which I'm looking forward to playing and I have to get back up for that. I know Pete and Micael really wanna kick my bum.

DL : Of course. What are you gonna do with the money?

PR: umm.. I don't really know. I uhh.. don't really live permanently anywhere so I can't buy a new home.

DL : You want me to hold it? I'll hold it. by the time the US Open rolls around again I'll be here. Let me hold it for you. Let's see are you a married man? you have a girlfriend? You have a wife and a girlfriend? [another highlight of the interview *smile* ]

(Pat looks so embarrassed. He kinda looks down and looked like he might blush and then after a long pause...)

PR : I do.. uhh..

DL : yeah.

PR : But it's an open relationship.

DL : oh an open relationship.

(crowd hoots)

So there's nothing committed, nothing serios, you're not engaged.

PR : I'm 24 years old.

DL : You like New York City? I gues you do now don't you?

PR : It's the best place in the world.

(DL pulls out the US Open trophy)

DL : That's something.. ain't that nice? That is really nice. Do you get to keep this? Does it go in your private colection?

PR : I do have a replica of this.. umm.. and it'll be full of beer as soon as I get home.

DL : ahh.. so back here I'm seeing Sampras, Edberg, Sampras, Sampras and the new edition to that will be umm Patrcik Rafter. that's got to be quite a thrill. Congratualtions and I'm so happy you could come here and be with us tonight. Thank you.

PR : Thank You.

DL : Ladies and gentlemen.. Patrick Rafter.

(clap)