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Successful return Rafter makes comeback with doubles win
Posted: Friday January 14, 2000 01:08 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Pat Rafter made his first tentative foray back into competition tennis Tuesday when he partnered Wayne Arthurs to a 6-4, 6-4 doubles win against Neil Broad and Brent Haygarth at the adidas International. But the two-time U.S. Open champion isn't promising anything more until an evaluation Wednesday on his injured shoulder. "It feels alright ... the big question mark is how it pulls up tomorrow," he said after the match. "There was a little bit of pain, once or twice when I got up after the serve sometimes, but that's to be expected I think." Rafter has been sidelined since pulling out of the U.S. Open last August. He underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder in October and is now gently feeling his way back onto the circuit. He confirmed he wouldn't be playing singles at the Australian Open starting Jan. 17 in Melbourne but said he might play doubles at the Grand Slam and possibly for Australia in the Davis Cup. Rafter, who is planning to play singles in Dubai next month, said serving was his only concern. "I wasn't trying to push it. I served one or two that came through quite well and it felt quite good but the serve that I like -- the heavy kick serve -- I wouldn't like to mess around with that yet," he said. The former world No. 1 and Australian Davis Cup hero Arthurs received a rousing reception from the vocal Sydney crowd, which waited until late in the schedule to see them in action. "It was a great reception -- it's a beautiful arena in there," Rafter said, adding that the crowd helped him feel at home. "The fanatic group traveling around are really creating an atmosphere -- it's fun to be out there."
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