Patrick Rafter (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

        MASON — Patrick Rafter has more Grand Slam titles, been the No.1 player in the world, is a former champion in Cincinnati and at 28 is the elder statesman of Australian tennis.

        Oh, and he may very well be the underdog today in the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.

        Rafter's opponent is 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt, a fellow Australian he has known since Hewitt was 15 and a practice partner for their Davis Cup team.

        “In practice, he'd be giving us a hard time,” Rafter said. “He's a great little competitor, and he's developed into a great, great player. I have a lot of respect for Lleyton's game.”

TODAY'S GUIDE

• Schedule, results   • Television: 1-3 p.m., ESPN (live); 10 p.m.-midnight, ESPN2 (tape delayed)

        Hewitt has earned that.

        He is ranked No. 5 in the ATP Entry System and is the No. 5 seed here. He advanced with a tough victory over qualifier Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-4.

        Rafter is No. 7 in the ATP Entry System and the No. 8 seed this week. He got past Greg Rusedski 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-4 Friday.

        Hewitt is 2-0 against Rafter. Both matches were in 1999, on hard court, and ended 7-6, 6-1.

        “It's going to be tough,” Hewitt said. “We're good mates. Pat's done a lot for my game. I've got to go out there and try to forget that and try to play well and give it everything I've got.”

Lleyton Hewitt | ZOOM |

        The two Aussies eat together, play golf together and go to movies together. Hewitt said of all the ATP players, he's probably clos est to Rafter and Scott Draper, who doesn't travel much anymore.

        Hewitt said Rafter took him under his wing at a young age.

        “You just learn little things,” Hewitt said. “He's such a high professional guy on and off the court.”

        “Every now and then I try to give him advice,” Rafter said. “But Lleyton knows what he wants and he knows what works. If he listens (to me) or not, it's up to him. A lot of time he doesn't.”

        Hewitt is one of the ATP's quickest players, and he can chase down some of the volleys Rafter hits that other players can't get to. Hewitt favors longer rallies. Rafter wants to serve, come to the net and get points over with.

        The biggest difference between the two? “I probably get a little bit more pumped up on the court,” Hewitt said.

        Hewitt led Australia to an emotional 1999 Davis Cup championship while Rafter was out with an injured right shoulder. The two have helped their country into the 2001 Davis Cup semifinals. It's that international competition that is most keeping Rafter motivated to play tennis.

        Rafter was asked whether he considers Hewitt more of friend or younger brother?

        “I've got enough brothers,” said a smiling Rafter, who has eight siblings, including five brothers. “I don't need another one. I don't know. I haven't beaten the (bleep) out of Lleyton yet, so I don't know if we're like brothers or not.

        “No, we're good mates. ... And he's sort of become like family, I guess. If Lleyton ever needed help, I'd be there for him.”

Hewitt vs. Rafter
        Series: Hewitt leads series 2-0
        Lleyton Glynn Hewitt
        Personal: 20 years old, born in Adelaide, Australia
        Rankings: No.5 in ATP Champions Race; No.5 in ATP Entry System
        Highest singles ranking: 4 (July 2001)
        In Cincinnati: 4-1 (.800), 2nd year
        2001 highlights: Won titles in Sydney in January, London/Queen's Club in June and 's-Hertogenbosch , The Netherlands in June. Advanced to semifinals at Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells, Ericsson Open, Tennis Masters Series Hamburg. Has won ATP-best 56 matches.
        Patrick Michael Rafter
        Personal: 28 years old, born in Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
        Rankings: No.4 in ATP Champions Race; No.7 in ATP Entry System
        Highest singles ranking: 1 (July 1999)
        In Cincinnati: 18-6 (.750), eighth year
        2001 highlights: Runner-up at Wimbledon and Tennis Masters Series Canada. Advanced to semifinals at Australian Open, Ericsson Open and Halle, Germany.

Sports Stories

IRL drivers give green light to repaved Speedway Long day of tennis for semifinalists Tennis Masters schedule, results Henman gets another shot at Kuerten Hewitt, Rafter not mates today Rafter wears down Rusedski in marathon Rafter is crowd favorite New partner, same success for Woodbridge Doubles team dodges 6 match points to win Olympian Williams fights tonight

Bengals 27, Lions 24
Bengals-Lions stats, summary
Bengals' top pick watching, waiting
Griffin makes most of opportunity
Lions returner scores twice
Rockies 16, Reds 7
Sullivan can set iron-man mark
SULLIVAN: Corking bats common, accepted
Harnisch can see himself here in 2002
Reds' 2002 rotation is anyone's guess
Rockies' rocky road ends here
Reds box, runs