By Caroline Milburn
First published in The Age on April 8, 1997
Trouble brews over hungover tennis players
Being drunk while representing your country on the tennis country court is not a wise move.
Australia v Czech Republic in the Davis Cup.
Patrick Rafter, teen idol and victorious Davis Cup team member, left Australia yesterday, with a fuss brewing about his drinking antics.
His remark that he was drunk while playing a Davis Cup match on Sunday against the Czech Republic in Adelaide has alarmed Australia’s main medical and drug organisations.
“I was still drunk coming here this morning,” the 24-year-old said on Sunday, after recovering from nightclubbing the previous night and then slogging through his match against David Riki to win 7-2, 0-6, 6-2.
His frank appraisal has not impressed the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Keith Woollard, who said the comment was irresponsible and sent the wrong message to young people who idolised sports stars.
“It’s a serious problem to send that message to young people: that you can get drunk and get away with it,” he said. “When most people get drunk they don’t get away with it so lightly. Tragedies can occur.”
He said the behaviour of Rafter and his fellow reveller and teammate, Mark Philippoussis, revealed a lack of respect for the spectators.
The Australian team celebrates the Davis Cup win against the Czech Republic.Credit: Tim Clayton-Smith
Dr Woollard said Tennis Australia should take disciplinary action against the pair. Philippoussis was unwilling to play his match due to a hangover, but went on to win 6-4, 6-2 against Martin Damm.
A spokesman for the Australian Drug Foundation said research showed that young people were influenced by the behaviour and attitudes of elite sportspeople.
The foundation’s manager, Ms Rosemary McClean, said the agency was not anti-alcohol but it was disappointing that Australian athletes often marked their victories with excessive drinking.
Mr Mike Daws, the Davis Cup event director and Tennis Australia’s general manager of operations, said Rafter was tired, not drunk.
Rafter’s comment about drunkenness and sobering up halfway through the match was a joke, which had backfired at the post-match press conference, Mr Davis said. It had been blown out of proportion by the media, he said.
He said Tennis Australia did not condone drinking by players. The captain of the Davis Cup team, John Newcombe, agreed. “The celebrations were a few celebratory champagnes after the match at the official dinner,” he said.
“They followed that with dancing and a late night. As you can see from the boys’ professional attitude, they went out there and won both matches”.
Australia won the Davis Cup quarter-final against the Czech Republic 5-0.
Rafter was heading for a tournament in Hong Kong yesterday and was unavailable for comment. Philippoussis’s manager, Mr Steve Frazer, said his client had worked hard to win his matches, had fulfilled his responsibilities to Australian tennis, and it was reasonable to celebrate the victory.