Rafter started well with victory over Grosjean

After missing out on Australia's Davis Cup triumph in 1999, and playing in the team that lost to Spain in last year's final, Rafter was desperate to win on home soil.

Having never lost to Escude and with a grass surface perfectly suited to his game, Rafter would have been a strong favourite.

So it was a major blow when he aggravated an arm injury during the doubles on Saturday, and that was compounded when Escude beat replacement Wayne Arthurs.

Rafter did not appear for the post-match press conference and team captain John Fitzgerald could not shed any light on his future.

"I can't speak for Pat but I don't even know if he knows," Fitzgerald said. "I haven't been told but I think he just needs time off."

The loss was another disappointment for a player who will be remembered as much for his major defeats as victories.

Despite winning successive US Opens during his best years of 1997 and 1998, a total of 11 singles titles in 10 years on tour is disappointing.

Any player that can win successive titles at Flushing Meadows clearly has a strong mentality, but at times Rafter has let potential victories slip away.

Rafter lost out again at Wimbledon this year

Fitness has played a major part in that and was in evidence again at this year's Australian Open.

Much like the Davis Cup final, the home crowd was willing their hero to what would have been an emotional victory.

And with Arnaud Clement waiting in the final, it looked a real possibility as Rafter took a 2-1 lead over Andre Agassi in the semi-final.

But the Aussie could not keep up the punishing pace and succumbed to what would be the first of several painful defeats this year.

After throwing away the lead against Pete Sampras in last year's final, Rafter had another opportunity to become the first Australian since Pat Cash to win Wimbledon.

Facing the unexpected figure of Goran Ivanisevic, he went into the match as a clear favourite and with plenty of vocal support on Centre Court.

Just two points from victory at one stage in the fifth set, Rafter could not capitalise, and Ivanisevic eventually condemned him to another runners-up spot.

After falling to a resurgent Sampras in the last 16 at the US Open, the Davis Cup clash with France became Rafter's only remaining target.

Hewitt and Rafter fell short in the doubles

Things started well as he beat Sebastien Grosjean, but Fitzgerald's decision to play Rafter alongside Lleyton Hewitt proved calamitous for both the player and the team.

Not only did the pair lose, but Rafter's long-term struggle with arm and shoulder injuries resurfaced.

"We took a risk in doubles and it didn't work but it was a risk we had to take," he said afterwards.

"I knew I probably only had one more match left in me so we decided to go for it, but it didn't come off."

It is a mark of his good nature that he immediately consoled his team-mates after Arthurs lost the decisive rubber.

But while there will be other days for Hewitt and co, there may not be for Rafter.