["The Star-Spangled Banner"]
Pat Rafter is the 1997 U.S. Open Champion.
Pat Rafter breaks Australia's Grand Slam drum.
["The Star-Spangled Banner"]
Good evening. Pat Rafter has answered the prayers of Australian tennis fans
becoming the first of our countrymen in 24 years to win the U.S. Open.
Now ranked number three in the world, Rafter took four sets to overcome Greg Ruzetsky,
the biggest server in the game.
The last Australian to win in New York was John Newcombe way back in 1973.
For the first two sets, 24-year-old Rafter climbed all over Ruzetsky and sometimes went through.
But in the third, Ruzetsky managed a string of streaky shots that gave him heart and a three nil lead.
Pat came back to level at three all, but the former Canadian broke again to take the set.
Into the fourth, and Rafter knew he was in a scrap, but broke early for a three-one lead.
Ruzetsky fired back with the biggest server in the history of the game and leveled at five all.
Desperation produced some inspired moments.
More than two hours into a tired attacking match, Pat was still on his toes, this bringing up three break points.
Producing a step right out of Riverdance, there was still work to be done.
But six-five in front, it was done soon enough.
You'll get that.
Boy, that's terrific efforts from everyone.
And a sport-up championship point.
Didn't have to make the volley.
And there was nothing anticlimactic about the final exchange.
That'll do it.
Unbelievable result. Pat Rafter is the 1997 US Open Champion.
Disposing of his racket, Pat did up Pat Cash, clambering up the wall to embrace his coach Tony Roach.
The third youngest of nine children, Pat had three family members to share the moment.
What an incredible result there.
In Brisbane, the rest of the family were so proud they could burst, especially Mum and Dad.
Well, the emotional one is here. You know, she should describe the moment.
Oh, no. You know, it's... We've believed in him all his life.
From being 63 in the world at the start of the year, the Aussie was now number three and US Open Champion.
This is my first one, it's my first title for the year and it's just a happy bit, US Open. It's an amazing feeling.
The next assignment, a scramble for the phone. Pat's mother, the first in the queue for a chat.
You're not crying back there, are you, Mum?
The only thing that was left now was to celebrate and there were plenty of people to play with.
Have you ever seen Ken Rosewell look like this?
In a city that never sleeps, Newt was in full cry for an Aussie sing-along.
Still in a state of bewilderment, the new US Open champion settled in for a night that will go longer than any five-sever he has ever played.
The British government is looking for ways to establish a lasting legacy for the Princess of Wales, but in a way the public is doing the job already.
Donations to her memorial charity fund have already reached a staggering $218 million, potentially making it one of the world's largest charity organisations.
After the most traumatic of days, Princes William and Harry are mourning in private at Highgrove, Prince Charles' country estate.
This morning the Queen attended church at Bough Marl in Scotland after the most testing week of her reign.
She later met with Prime Minister Tony Blair.
There's speculation there was talk of change in the way the monarchy can better adapt to the future.
All Mr Blair would reveal was a determination for the legacy of Princess of Wales to live on.
I think there has to be a permanent memorial.
And I think the best way of doing that is if you like a lasting continuation of her work.
And we will look at this now very closely to what role we can play.
And the day after Diana's funeral, the country was still coming to terms with the eloquent and powerful speech delivered at the funeral service by Earl Spencer, Diana's brother.
His calls for a less intrusive press and his pointed remarks about the need for William and Harry to be given a normal upbringing.
It was almost a direct, if you like, attack on the royal family.
And it seems to me you live your life like a candle in the wind.
Elton John's specially dedicated version of Candle in the Wind is expected to go on sale at the end of the week.
And all the money, of course, will go to the Prince's Fundation. We could raise a substantial amount of money, I hope, between five and ten million pounds.
And today Kensington Palace, Diana's former London home, was under siege like never before.
Vast crowds, the largest scene outside the palace this week, absorbing the scent of a million bouquets and the emotion of a million messages of sympathy.
And the bodyguard, who was the sole survivor of the crash that killed Diana, has reportedly told his family he feels guilty that he didn't prevent it.
A British newspaper says Trevor Reese-Jones has slipped in and out of consciousness. He remains in a critical condition in a Paris hospital.
The State Government is facing damaging legal action from one of its own businesses.
The Civil Construction Corporation has lodged a writ in the Supreme Court against the Department of Transport after allegations confidential tender information was leaked to its rivals.
The writ, lodged by the Government-owned Civil Construction Corporation, is seeking an injunction against the Department of Transport from awarding a lucrative 10-year, $100 million road maintenance contract for the Southern Road Network.
The opposition says the writ alleges former Department of Transport staff passed confidential information on the rival tender and firm.
Confidentially, I have had employees employed in certain areas of the Department who have raised many concerns.
Mr Best also questions the length of the contract, saying motorists are being used as guinea pigs.
The Department's own engineer of investigation raised serious concerns about the standards and the ability to manage and maintain the road network with these contracts.
Transport Minister John Cleary says an independent audit of the tender process has begun and adds 10-year contracts are what the construction industry wanted.
Now if I accepted views of the opposition, we'd still be running a transport system with horses and carts in the state.
Mike Harris, Wynn News.
The State Government has gone to ground over an independent report which says Tasmania's job seekers face an uphill battle into the next century.
BIS shrapnel economists forecast a gloomy 15-year future for primary industry and manufacturing, claiming they'll continue to lag behind the national average.
The report also claims Tasmania will miss out on the tourist boom from the 2000 Olympics because the Government isn't doing enough to promote the State.
What this report says, Minister, put the brakes on, don't close our centres, don't let our tourist industry down.
Tasmania is expected to record the nation's highest unemployment rate when August figures are released later this week.
That's despite a slight increase in the AMZ Bank's job vacancies nationally.
But in a bid to reverse the trend, Wynn Television and the Mercury are launching a Job for Australia campaign aimed at restoring confidence in the job sector.
With over 23,500 Tasmanians currently out of work, employment agencies don't paint a rosy picture.
Employment has decreased by over 10,000 in the last 12 months and from a vacancy notification perspective, we've had eight consecutive months in which vacancies have declined.
Experts agree the answer lies in the small business and private sectors.
It's only private employers who can generate real wealth and out of real wealth comes growth and that means jobs.
A new Job for Australia initiative is aimed at directly influencing Tasmania's depressing employment statistics.
During a live television broadcast Wednesday week, potential employers will be asked to ring in and pledge jobs, calls to be screened by CES personnel.
It's an initiative by the main network, by New Zimabit, the Wynn and the Mercury in Tasmania, to give a confidence booster, to give the job, to give a psychological booster as well.
On the night we're aiming for potential employers to ring up and donate jobs and at the end of it, if we can create hundreds of jobs, not only in Tasmania but throughout Australia, it'll be tremendous.
Jobs for Australia is being endorsed by government ministers and welfare groups but key players are hoping it will inject a new enthusiasm across the wider community.
And that's the most important thing that this country needs at the moment, confidence and enthusiasm to move ahead.
Jobs can be pre-registered on these two fax numbers or called in during a live telecast.
The Honour Law, Wynn New.
In the years ahead, the owner of Heathrow and Tullamoreen airports moves in on Launceston and the world's most sophisticated fighter jet unveiled.
Police are appealing for witnesses to a possible abduction of Debenport this afternoon.
A 15-year-old girl was reportedly forced into a red Comet oar by a man and a woman at the Debenport Bluff car park just before 3 o'clock.
Police are unsure if the report is genuine or a prank and are appealing for information.
The Tasmanian Fire Service and the Victorian University of Technology are running a training program to make sure new buildings have acceptable fire safety standards.
The move follows changes to the Building Code of Australia.
The new Building Code of Australia came into force in July.
The Code became more flexible.
Fire regulation is one of the things to change.
You don't have to design to the rules, you can design to the boy that best suits the building.
That change means the people designing and approving buildings can't just rely on the code to make sure fire safety is up to scratch.
It means the designers and the regulators have to understand the engineering approach to fire safety much better.
22 students from the fire service, local government and the building industry are attending the five-day course,
learning how the design of a building affects the way fires start and spread as well as the safety of people inside.
Mark Robinson, Wynn News.
The sale of the Launceston Airport is a step closer following the signing of a formal agreement between the Launceston City Council and the Australian Pacific Airports.
The arrangement gives the council the option to acquire a 10% equity stake in the airport.
The joint venture is expected to maximise the success of the sale because the Australian Pacific already owns Melbourne's Tullamoreen Airport.
We believe that by increasing flights into Melbourne there's been the potential to also increase the flights and passengers into northern Tasmania.
The council says the agreement has met with support from business and tourism groups.
We've talked about it for a long time. Today is the reality where we go forward to the next step which is the bidding process.
The Australian Pacific Airports Corporation says local involvement is imperative for the city.
Participation will mean that they have a board seat on the board of Launceston Airport and we're very involved in how the airport is managed and how it is developed.
The agreement also means that Australia Pacific will not enter a similar arrangement with the Hobart Airport.
It's highly likely that the federal government will stipulate that Hobart and Northland should be in separately.
Peter Gilligan, Wynn News.
Here's today for the future of nursing homes in Australia, a conference of religious and charitable aged care organisations in Hobart discussing the impact of planned federal funding changes.
A new federal funding regime for aged care is likely to come into force next month.
Anyone earning more than the pension expected to pay higher fees, people entering a nursing home ask to pay a new accommodation bond.
In the long term I'm not too sure how they're going to affect.
I think there's a bit of a fear that they might be a short term fix to some government budgetary problems.
As a Sweden the government is promising a new accreditation scheme for nursing homes and subsidies for people on low income.
All aimed at making aged care more cost efficient.
But some people at the conference are worried there's something more serious behind changes to aged care than a drive for efficiency.
They're concerned that Australians are losing their sense of community and that caring about others has become an unfashionable concept.
People are more important. We need to have compassion in our society.
Mark Robinson, Wynn News.
It's India's turn to endure national grief, the country mourning the death of Mother Teresa.
In a rare honour the Roman Catholic nun will be given a state funeral, Saturday's mass being held in a stadium because of the anticipated huge crowd.
Mother Teresa's own religious family shepherded their sacred cargo out into the daylight.
There could have been no more fitting transport for her journey than one of the old ambulances used by the sisters to help the poor and dying of Calcutta.
All the other way they eat them.
Long lines of mourners are filing past her body, still dressed in that familiar blue and white habit.
India's Prime Minister laid a wreath and announced the country would break the usual protocol and give a woman not born of this country a state funeral.
Outside, tens of thousands have arrived at St Thomas' Church in Calcutta, hoping to view the body.
During his Sunday message, Pope John Paul II said through love she transformed her life into a total one of giving.
A tribute too today from Prime Minister John Howard.
He is in my lifetime the ultimate role model of a selfless Christian life.
Mother Teresa's work will continue under a successor chosen just last year.
The Indian government says because of the crowds expected the funeral service can't be held safely at this church.
So now it will take place at a football stadium ensuring a massive turnout to farewell the woman the ordinary people already call their patron saint.
Mabutu Sessetseko, the former president of Zaire, has died in exile in Morocco aged 66.
During his 30 year reign, the dictator siphoned millions from Zaire's economy to support his lavish lifestyle while leaving his starving people to fight for food.
Mabutu was ousted by Laurent Kabila in May after a seven month civil war.
In America's latest fighter aircraft, the F-22 Raptor has made its first flight.
The 70 million dollar jet is the world's most sophisticated warplane but it's said to be as easy to fly as a Cessna.
It will allow us to own the skies over any future battlefield.
Its first battle is with Congress where critics say the fighter is an expensive relic of the Cold War.
Our stock market ignored a negative close on Wall Street, the ordinary is gaining 30.2, a dollar down against the three major currencies.
Sports up next with Cameron Beston, wasn't that a great victory by Pat Rafter?
Certainly was John. We'll have another look at Rafter's win and the teenage whiz Martina Hingis does it again.
Pat Rafter is the 1927 US Open
As we reported earlier Australia once again has a Grand Slam tennis champion following Patrick Rafter's victory at the US Open.
His fourth time in the US Open was in the US Open in 1927.
He's been in the US Open for a long time and has been in the US Open for a long time.
As we reported earlier Australia once again has a Grand Slam tennis champion following Patrick Rafter's victory at the US Open.
His four set win over Britain's Greg Resedski at Flushing Meadows was a dream come true for the 24 year old.
Rafter's victory lifts him to number three in the world behind Pete Sampras and Michael Chang, two players he's likely to face in the Davis Cup semi-finals later this month.
And Martina Hingis has strengthened her position at the top of the world's tennis rankings following her decisive win in the women's.
The Swiss star won in straight sets proving too strong for another 17 year old, Venus Williams.
The first teenage final at the Open and although Venus Williams is three months older than Martina Hingis, there's a gulf of big time experience and credentials between them.
Lovely, neat volleys.
For 66 ranked Williams, her fantastic fortnight included wins over Anka Huber and Irina Spalaya, making her the first unseated woman into a US Final since the Open started in 1968.
But against the world's number one, Venus came back down to earth.
Beautiful to watch.
Aiming for her third Grand Slam title in four finals this year, Hingis humbled her rival, taking the first set to love in 22 minutes.
Great save by Hingis.
The Swiss continued to dominate as Williams was racking up a huge error count, but somehow she fought back from an early break to level at four all.
That's well done.
Hingis then headed off any danger, closing it out 6-4.
Little serve, just to finish it off.
The odds on favorite lives up to her top seed billing and shared the moment with her mother.
A kiss, no, she can't get up there.
That's lovely to see.
And as Williams realizes how close she came on her debut, this Martina is also destined for a long dynasty.
North Melbourne's Glenn Archer will know shortly if he'll play in Saturday's semifinal against West Coast.
He's before the tribunal on a tripping charge.
For St Kilda though, one of their stars has already learned his final spate.
Peter Everett's post-match drink with manager Robert Hesham today was hardly of the celebratory kind.
Only hours earlier, X-rays revealed a fracture in his left collarbone.
The injury sustained during St Kilda's win against Brisbane yesterday has ended Everett's season.
With the Saints just one win away from a grand final, missing out on a premiership would be a bitter pill to swallow.
If they are playing, it would be pretty tough to sit down and watch the whole thing.
But that's one of the things you'll have to do.
There was some good news for St Kilda however, with Robert Harvey, Nicky Wynmar and Jason Heatley,
also casualties yesterday, certain to be fit for the preliminary final.
Wynmar was knocked out in the third quarter and taken to hospital for observation.
He was later discharged.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs' Jose Romero might also play again this season.
A scan of his shoulder injury shows no structural damage.
And while North Melbourne's quest for back-to-back flags has been rejuvenated by last night's win against Geelong,
the Roos are now sweating on Glen Archer's appearance before the Tribunal.
Archer tonight faces a charge of tripping Gary Hocking.
The video review of that game is yet to be completed,
and North vice captain Wayne Schwoss could come under scrutiny for this incident.
Also before the Tribunal tonight are West Coast Eagles Guy McKenna and Fraser Gerrard,
both booked for striking.
The Eagles take on North in Sunday's first semi-final.
And the league has just announced that the first of the preliminary finals will be played at the MCG on Friday night,
September 19th, while the second is scheduled for the Saturday afternoon at the same venue.
While Burnidge cruised into the TFL Grand Final with a big win over Clarence at the Mud in West Park yesterday,
Glenorchy also has been as a major threat to the flag.
Their nicknames are Hot Pies, and that's exactly what they are.
A powerful display by Glenorchy in the last half of Saturday's first semi-final blew Port Power off Devonport Oval and out of the finals race.
It's Glenorchy's best result since they made the 1988 Grand Final, but the Magpies aren't about to stop there.
I think there's a bit of belief in the team now, that everyone, if they do their bit, you know, and we can tweak all together,
that we can beat everyone, but it does come back to how you go on the day, obviously.
First though, Glenorchy must get over arch-rider Clarence in Sunday's preliminary finals.
All the boys built up for Clarence, and I'm sure they're boys with a frame,
so it's going to be a good day and a big crowd there and a great game.
Jordan will be one of the frontrunners for Friday's count of the William Leach Best and Ferris Medal.
Bernie's Damian Brown and Port's Fabian Corelli lead the latest betting to the award at 4-1.
Dual medalist Danny Noonan is at 5s, Michael Stiles and Kim Reynolds at 8s.
And that's Monday's sport. Thanks, John. Thanks, Cameron.
When is next for the weather? Then party heads party hard in Moscow.
Good evening. Conditions were fairly cool around the state,
although St Helens recorded a top of 17 degrees, and there was rain at times in most districts.
Bernie and Devon Pott both recorded 14. Ross and Queenstown both 14 also.
Scottsdale a top of 16 degrees. Launceston 8 to 16, and Hobart 7 to 14.
You can see the eastward movement of frontal cloud over the Bight.
Tomorrow the front will have moved south of us,
and we will come under the influence of a high pressure ridge.
For tomorrow, light showers in the western south, otherwise it should be fine.
To the coastals now, west to southwesterlies of 10 to 20 knots,
locally 25 overnight in the far north-west and the far south-west,
gradually tending west north-westally at 10 to 20, but 25 later tomorrow in the south-west.
So just like a fine day on the way to the major centres, Hobart 7 to 14,
Launceston 5 to 16 degrees, Bernie and Devon Pott 7 to around 14,
St Helen 16, 15 to 20 and strong a top of 13 degrees.
To the capitals now, Adelaide becoming fine 18, Sydney fine 19,
Brisbane final, so with 25 degrees, and Melbourne clearing showers in 16.
A warning of minor flooding continues for all northern river basins,
although no further rain is expected.
The out of full Wednesday showers developing,
so is our shower or two and a fine day for Friday.
Now it's back to you John.
Thanks Wendy. In the old days, Moscow would have a birthday with military parades and military might.
But this weekend, the city celebrated its 850th anniversary with one long giant party.
It was dancing in the streets and Italy's Luciano Pavarotti brought the house down.
And the capitol lost 40 separate displays of fireworks.
And that's good news for Monday, September the 8th.
I'm John Remus, good night.