FULL VERSION 1997 - Rafter vs Rusedski - US Open

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Tournament Copyrights -
© 1997 United States Tennis Association (USTA)
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Commentary / Broadcast Copyrights -
© CBS Sports (United States) - a division of ViacomCBS Inc.
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Rad to the Power of Cool Copyrights -
© PertSnergleman™ Channel
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Thank you for your gracious use of this classic match!

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PertSnergleman's Review:
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Patrick Rafter was as loose and relaxed as a reggae tune. He had been listening to a Ben Harper CD just hours before he would have to walk through the corridors that led to Arthur Ashe Stadium for his first Grand Slam final.

The music gave his thoughts an escape hatch from the pressure that had dogged him for years, all the expectations that had been slapped on his 24-year-old back to be the next John Newcombe or Tony Roche or Ken Rosewall. He did not want to think it, not before he was about to play Britain's Greg Rusedski for the U.S. Open title Sunday.

And yet, once he used his ubiquitous court coverage and reflexes that were as quick as the camera shudders recording every moment of his 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 getaway from the record-fast serves of Rusedski, all Rafter could think about was another Australian he had to live up to: How would Pat Cash have celebrated?

So Rafter scaled the wall to the Friends' Box in koala-like fashion, hopping into each embrace. The last time an Aussie was spotted making such a climb in a Grand Slam final, Cash had just won the 1987 Wimbledon.

"Cashy did it," Rafter said. "I thought it was pretty cool.

Well done, mate. Those were the words cascading down from the rim of the stadium, where Australians were giving a bloody ribbing to those waving the Union Jack.

"Pretty bloody big," Rafter said. "I just thought, 'Oh no, he's going to win the tournament and he's going to take the record with him.' I'm not trying to hit it. My arm would fall off."

The difference in Rafter's life will be huge, now. Coming home to Australia with a Grand Slam in his bags will change everything. The players without an agent might need a management team in a hurry.

"I've got no idea what it'll be like, mate," Rafter said. "There's going to be a lot of pressure around me, I suspect."

But he is getting more comfortable handling pressure. Before a big match, his nerves used to jangle, his brow used to sweat, his nights would end up sleepless.

"He got some sleep last night," Peter said. "We just took it easy during the day, just listened to music and talked about everything but tennis."

And in the course of conversation, the brothers realized that in all the excitement of the tournament -- even if they did downplay it in their minds -- they had forgotten that in Australia, it was Father's Day on Sunday.

When the match was over, Rafter allowed himself to get excited, too. To heck with the calm exterior. He climbed the wall of the Friend's Box, he found Tony Roche and embraced Australian tradition.

"Just to see him here, be in my corner," Rafter said. "You can't get better guys in your corner."

And as he walked off the court, another Aussie legend, Newcombe, patted him on the cheek as he approached him for an interview for Australian television.

"Newc did interview me," Rafter said. "It's so nice to have all the Aussie guys. They know what this feels like."

And finally, so does Rafter.