FIT RAFTER TO PLAY IT COOL OFF COURT IN FUTURE
By Cole Hitchcock
            BRISBANE, Dec 7 AAP - Australia's dual US Open champion Pat Rafter aid he had overcome a knee injury which cost him a place in the world rankings but considered keeping a lower profile was just as vital to his future success. Rafter has taken a step back from heavy commitments since withdrawing from last month's World Championship of Tennis in Germany won by Spaniard Alex Corretja, who in turn took the Australian's No.3 spot in the rankings.

            "This year I'm going to take it a lot easier, trying to pace myself properly so I don't get burnt out going into the Australian Open," Rafter said having been beaten in the second round of last year's Open.

            "Every year's very difficult but if I can get off to a great start I can set the rest of the year up, it would just take a lot of pressure off.

            "Next year I'm going to have a lot of breaks. It's going to be a lot less demanding on my time." The Queenslander starts his comeback next month in Sydney's adidas International, the AAPT championship in Adelaide and then the Australian Open in Melbourne.

            "The main goal is to keep fit and keep sane," Rafter said.

            "There are a lot of demands and the tennis and the travel stress you out. I just felt a whole lot of pressure release off me since June.

            "I knew that it had to come sooner or later. All of a sudden I just relaxed and took things a lot easier and I was away again."

            Rafter said he was frustrated at missing the world championship and a little surprised Corretja won the title.

            "It does hurt when you see all those results and know you could have had a chance of doing well again and maybe picking up another title," Rafter said.

            "The reason you are not going to see myself, Sampras or Rios there towards the end is because of a very long year.

            "You are going to see these other guys do well because they are probably a little fresher but at the same time these guys can play." Rafter plans not to hit a ball until after Christmas having spent the last three weeks on Queensland's Sunshine Coast relaxing and rehabilitating. He is confident the knee injury has been fully repaired.

            "I've been doing a lot of that over the last week up here with Mark Waters my fitness coach," Rafter said.

            "There's a lot of rehabilitation work on that and getting it ready. The problem started to ease up on my last tournament but I didn't want to risk it anyway.

            "I won't be hitting balls except for one charity thing on Friday in Adelaide. Then I won't pick up another racquet until after Christmas." Rafter is also no longer concerned about the No.1 spot Sampras has had a mortgage on in recent years.

            "It's not a huge goal of mine," he said.

            "I'm in a position now to have a crack at it around Australian Open time where I don't have a lot to defend.

            "It gives me an opportunity to do really well. At the same time I still would like to be there (No.1) but it's not my main priority." Rafter has used some of his spare time to help with the charity group Coast Care, a volunteer organisation helping take care of Australia's oceans and coastlines.

            He has filmed a series of television advertisements, having volunteered his time three years ago before his first US Open success. 


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