Star Retires from Bitter Davis Cup Row
by Leo Schlink
11th January 2001
Pat Rafter has decided to adopt a fatalistic attitude towards Mark Philippoussis in what could be the final year of his career.
The former doubles partners have been at odds over committing to the Australian Davis Cup team since their acrimonious 1997 semi-final tie against the US in Washington.
Rafter has routinely declared his availability, while Philippoussis, popularly known as the Scud, stood out for the entire 1998 season and has missed five of eight ties since.
The gulf between their attitudes to the Davis Cup was particularly pronounced during 1998-99 and flared at Wimbledon again last year.
But Rafter has decided not to fret over the issue any longer and says he will accept whatever decision the injury prone US Open finalist Philippoussis takes.
"I’ve stopped caring about it," Rafter said.
"I’m not worrying myself about it. I’ve argued now for two, three years and now it’s got to the stage where it’s: what am I doing, what do I care?
"But it still drags me down. It’s too much hard work and my attitude now is, ‘Do whatever you want to do’, and I’m just going to roll with the punches whatever happens.
"I might get walked over a little bit and mightn’t stand up for myself anymore. But I’m sick of saying my piece and it sort of puts you in a negative attitude.
"I’m more that happy to do whatever he wants."
Rafter added that he did not believe that the controversy over Philippoussis’ decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup semi-final against Brazil adversely affected his Wimbledon final performance against Pete Sampras.
"I don’t consider that as a factor in the match," he said. "I went out and played pretty well and I had my chances.
"I sort of felt like I’d got it off my chest anyway. I think of I’d carried it around it would have been upsetting, but I don’t consider that one of the reasons why I lost the match."
Rafter lost in four sets against Sampras, having won the opening bracket and held a 4-1 lead in the second set tiegreak.