Rafter confused over comeback plans: Newcombe

Australia's twice U S Open champion Pat Rafter is confused about possible comeback plans after taking a year-long break, his former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe said on Tuesday.

Rafter, 29, had a son with girlfriend Lara Feltham earlier this year, and has other priorities in his life outside tennis, Newcombe said.

However, finishing runner-up twice at Wimbledon and failing to win a Davis Cup title meant the former world number one still had ambitions in the game, Newcombe added.

"He's not sure whether he wants to put himself through it and he's just a bit confused about the whole thing," Newcombe told Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) Radio.

"He realises the expectations that everybody wants him to come back. Maybe that's scaring him a little bit."

Rafter, the 2001 Australian of the Year, said last week he felt fit but was undecided on a possible return to the gruelling tour schedule.

"I just don't want Pat at 40 years of age ... to have to look back and say 'I should have given it another year'," Newcombe said.

"That's all I want for Pat because he deserves to have his name on the Wimbledon honour board and he deserves to have his name on the Davis Cup and he hasn't got them there yet."

Newcombe, 58, won three Wimbledon titles himself. He stepped down as non-playing Davis Cup captain following Australia's loss in the 2000 final to Spain.

Under new captain John Fitzgerald, Rafter controversially played doubles then withdrew injured from the reverse singles in last year's final, won by France in Melbourne.