Nineteen years on from Pat Rafter’s most devastating on-court moment, the Aussie tennis legend’s heartache is impossible to miss.
Rafter knew that would be his last visit to SW19 because he was retiring and told Whitaker he was “incredibly nervous, like I’d never been nervous before”, unable to find his groove after being broken early and losing the first set as Ivanisevic’s risk-taking paid dividends.
“It was bittersweet as well. It was really touching, there were some really nice, sentimental things said but it was also very hard to take because you were the loser.”The loveable Australian has learnt to live with the result no one saw coming but it took a while to get there. Rafter and Ivanisevic were close back then and still share a special bond today. Rafter says if he couldn’t win, he’s glad his good mate was able to lift the trophy.
It’s why Whitaker always thought the laconic Aussie would have taken the loss in his stride and not let it drag him down.
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