REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday July 10, 2001

AUSTRALIA’S Pat Rafter had his dream shattered – and saddened Aussies around the world – when he lost his Wimbledon singles final after a five-set dogfight.

He was beaten 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-9 by emotional Croatian Goran Ivanisevic who took the title at his fourth attempt.

Ivanisevic started the match with his power serve working well.

He was also returning solidly, and a Rafter mis-hit set up an early break opportunity for the Croatian, which he took.

Down 2-0 in the first set Rafter was peppered by Ivanisevic’s booming serve.

In the fourth game Rafter held serve to finally get on the board, 3-1. Then Rafter surprised Ivanisevic with a lovely lob which seemed to worry Ivanisevic who stiffened his game to lead 4-1.

At 5-3, Rafter’s returns flew wild and Ivanisevic wrapped up the first set 6-3.

Urged on by the Australian cricket team and other roaring Aussie fans Rafter held serve in game one of the second set.

Then Ivanisevic’s service began to falter and Rafter quickly took advantage to surge to 3-0.

A shaken Ivanisevic struggled to hold on with Rafter eventually taking the set 6-3.

Both players pushed hard in the third set, and in the sixth game the unpredictable Ivanisevic earned two break points which he converted to lead 4-2. Playing with increased confidence he repelled a scrambling Rafter to take the set 6-3 with a sizzling second serve and lead two sets to one.

The good off-court friends kept firing big shots at one another in the fourth set.