Rafter hints he won't play again

Australia's former world number one Patrick Rafter has given his strongest hint yet that he won't be making a comeback.

The 29-year-old has taken an extended break from the game and indicated this week that he was in no rush to start playing again.

During a guest appearance on an Australian television show, Rafter implied he had hung up his racket for good.

"Put it this way, I am enjoying retirement," he said.

Rafter has not played since Australia suffered a shock 3-2 defeat by France in the Davis Cup final in December.

The twice former U.S. Open champion did not even attend last month's Australian Open and has since revealed that his partner Lara Feltham is expecting the couple's first child in July.

During the television interview, Rafter reflected on his career and, in a frank admission, conceded that he had "choked" in his 2000 Wimbledon final defeat by Pete Sampras.

Rafter also admitted he blew it against Goran Ivanisevic in last year's final and believed he was destined never to win Wimbledon.

"I put a lot of things down to a bit of fate," he said.

"Some things are just meant to be and some things just aren't and I consider Wimbledon to be one of those things that will probably elude me."