Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Carlos Moya and Marcelo Rios, three players who weren't the best in the world but ascended to the No1 ranking anyway, all suffered what you might call John Major Syndrome. None emerged from the long shadow of the deposed Pete Sampras (read Margaret Thatcher).

However, while that faint-hearted trio crept around the locker-room hoping no-one would notice their newfound statistical status, in the first days of what could be a very brief reign the new top dog, Pat Rafter, has already adopted a confident swagger.

With the type of verbal sideswipes more common in professional wrestling, Rafter yesterday brought his simmering feud with Sampras to the boil and helped give the game what it needs - a good old-fashioned rivalry.

"He says some really funny things at the wrong time, I think Pete does," Rafter said. "We are out there busting our guts and he doesn't show a lot of respect at the end of the day that we were trying to do that, and he tries to play down the reason why he lost, giving no respect to the other player, and that is really what upsets me about him and the reason why I try to piss him off as much as I can."

Rafter is still irked by Sampras's response to his victory over the American in the final of a tournament in Cincinnati last year. Rafter clinched his 1-6 7-6 6-4 victory after the umpire over-ruled a linesman and declared he serve an ace on match point.

Afterwards, a begrudging Sampras said the match had "ended on a bad note" and declared that the difference between himself and Rafter was "10 grand slams".

That margin became nine when Rafter won another US Open where Sampras was restricted by a thigh injury in their semi-final, although Rafter is still not convinced his opponent was as hurt as he claimed.

"You never quite know with Pete," Rafter said. "He seemed to have strained a thigh muscle then he came out and did some pretty extraordinary things. I really can't talk on how he was feeling. But every time he did move, and move very quickly, I was very annoyed with that and it was just very satisfying to win."

Rafter said the fact that Sampras held the No1 spot did not motivate him to claim the title. "But if I know Pete is upset about it, then it makes it even better."

While Rafter enjoys his moment in the sun, Sampras can reclaim the top spot by reaching the final of a tournament in Los Angeles this week, and thus eclipse Ivan Lendl's record of 270 weeks on top of the rankings.

Rafter will not get the chance to back up his words about Sampras in the near future as Sampras is a surprise omission from next week's Canadian Open.

Instead, Rafter will hope to avenge his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Andre Agassi, who at Wimbledon said he didn't want to "lose to anyone with a ponytail again".

"I won't lose to anyone bald again," countered Rafter, who clearly has more respect for Agassi than Sampras. "He has always been gracious in defeat and when he's beaten me."

While he enjoys the double celebration of Australia's Davis Cup victory over the US and his rise to No1, Rafter said the Davis Cup may cause some problems if Australia reaches the final.

Rafter would then have to play until December, leaving him little time to rest and prepare for the Australian Open, not an ideal scenario for someone who admitted his Christmas is usually "a little too Christmassy".

However, he is hoping a few subtle words in the ear of tournament director Paul McNamee will help his cause at Melbourne Park, where the relatively slow conditions do not suit a player who thrives on most hardcourts.

McNamee's main consideration will be to ensure Sampras returns to the Open in January, having missed the latest Open after playing himself to near exhaustion while chasing the year-end top ranking for a record sixth consecutive time.

And no-one will be more pleased to meet, and beat, Sampras than the world's latest No1.

"I get an incredible amount of enjoyment from being on top of him and pretty well just annoying him," said the Australian.