Rafter declined offer to coach Hewitt at AO

[oberyn]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/tennis/01/08/bc.tennis.hewitt/index.html

Former world No. 1 Pat Rafter has revealed he turned down an offer to coach Lleyton Hewitt after the Australian was dumped last week by Roger Rasheed.

Rafter told Sydney's Daily Telegraph on Tuesday that Hewitt called on Friday and asked him to coach him during the Australian Open, starting in Melbourne on Jan. 15.

But Rafter said he could not take the job because of his own family commitments.

"I did think about helping out Lleyton but it was impossible," Rafter told the paper. "I won't be in Melbourne for the Open because we're moving house and I can't get around it."

Hewitt announced on Monday that he has given the job to his former Davis Cup teammate Scott Draper on a part-time basis.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Good deal, Pat just retired, I think he wants to enjoy it some more.

 

[Duzza]

Good deal, Pat just retired, I think he wants to enjoy it some more.

Just retired?? 4 Years. He should be back out there by now :lol:

 

[oberyn]

Just retired?? 4 Years. He should be back out there by now :lol:

Do you think a Rafter-Hewitt combo would work, though?

 

[vkartikv]

His style of play is totally different from Hewitt's. Also, his nature is just the opposite of Hewitt's, it wouldn't work.

 

[dubsplayer]

Do you think a Rafter-Hewitt combo would work, though?

They were great mates and Lleyton always looked up to and respected Pat - ever since he was an Orange Boy. And when they played dubs together, Pat was definitely the leader. But why on earth would Pat want to put himself into the Hewitt train wreck. I don't exactly buy the 'I'm busy moving' excuse - he's just too nice to come right out and say to Lleyton no effing way.

Selfishly, I would have loved staring into the player's box.

 

[dubsplayer]

His style of play is totally different from Hewitt's. Also, his nature is just the opposite of Hewitt's, it wouldn't work.

I don't think style of play matters when it comes to coaching and I think Pat would have the cajones to tell Lleyton to cut out all the bs and grow up.

Pat was just as fierce a competitor as Hewitt - he just acted like a grown up about it.

 

[oberyn]

His style of play is totally different from Hewitt's. Also, his nature is just the opposite of Hewitt's, it wouldn't work.

That's kind of what I was getting at, and why it surprised me to learn that Hewitt had made the offer in the first place. I just don't see that as a match made in heaven.

 

[oberyn]

I don't think style of play matters when it comes to coaching. . .

I agree with you there.

. . .and I think Pat would have the cajones to tell Lleyton to cut out all the bs and grow up.

To your earlier point, though, why on Earth would Rafter, who by all accounts is quite happy and content in retirement, want to be in the position where he has to tell Hewitt to grow up?

 

[dubsplayer]

I agree with you there.



To your earlier point, though, why on Earth would Rafter, who by all accounts is quite happy and content in retirement, want to be in the position where he has to tell Hewitt to grow up?

He doesn't, obviously. And I certainly don't blame him for not wanting too. But, if he had said yes to Hewitt I think that would have top item on his agenda.

Newk read the riot act to Pat early in '97 (or '06) when Pat was playing and acting like crap and it changed everything for him. That kind of stuff coming from someone you idolize can work wonders.

 

[oberyn]

Newk read the riot act to Pat early in '97 (or '06) when Pat was playing and acting like crap and it changed everything for him. That kind of stuff coming from someone you idolize can work wonders.

I can see your point, but I can see their being a big difference in the way Rafter views/viewed Newk and the way Hewitt views Rafter.

 

[Jack Romeo]

rafter never had the same attitude problem that hewitt has, which is lleyton's bad temper. pat is not temperamental. his problem before was that he didn't believe in himself as much as he needed to, and was sort of a negative thinker. lleyton's temper causes him to act out and take his anger out on the people around him.

 

[dubsplayer]

I can see your point, but I can see their being a big difference in the way Rafter views/viewed Newk and the way Hewitt views Rafter.

Perhaps idolize is going a bit far ( he did though when he was very young) but I bet Lleyton respects Pat more then just about anybody else in TennisWorld and I think that alone could change his behavior. Plus one good slap upside the head.

 

[jmsx521]

Do you think a Rafter-Hewitt combo would work, though?

Yes... maybe even in doubles; they can win the AO doubles title, player and coach together.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Just retired?? 4 Years. He should be back out there by now :lol:

Duzza, I hope the retina replacement surgery works out for you. When they take the bandages off, check out a picture of Rafter's wife. I think it will clear things up for you...

 

[AJK1]

Hewitt is just a spoilt little brat who never grew up. What he said to Rasheed courtside apparently was disgusting. I wish he wasn't an Aussie, he shames us. Rafter is a legend, and he wouldn't want his reputation tarnished.