Patrick Rafter is preparing for his assault on a third successive US Open title in Bermuda after having to pull out of two tournaments to rest a shoulder injury.

And he will be hoping rest in his adoptive home will be just the tonic he needs for a third triumph in a row at Flushing Meadow.

Rafter quit the RCA Championships in Indianapolis at the quarter final stage last Thursday telling reporters he intended to take some leave on the Island prior to the last Grand Slam event of the century which starts in New York next Monday.

He also pulled out of this week's Hamlet Cup in Long Island, another tournament where he is the defending champion, hoping that the tendinitis in his right shoulder, which has affected his serve and backhand, would clear up.

But on a day trip to New York earlier this week, the jet-setting Australian said: "It definitely needs a rest, but whether a week is enough I'll find out shortly.'' The problem is a recurrence of an injury he says has troubled him throughout his career and flared up again at the French Open.

After withdrawing from Indianoplis, the Queenslander admitted: "I've been serving flat. I'm not serving any kick serves out there. I'm just serving.'' And he warned: "I need to be serving well to play well.'' Island resident Rafter, who played an exhibition match and the doubles competition of the Bermuda XL tournament back in April, said the constant grind of the schedule hadn't allowed him to rest.

The pony-tailed serve and volleyer dropped back to fourth in the ATP rankings last week after losing the final of the ATP Championship to Pete Sampras.

He had a brief foray with the number one spot late last month -- ironically in a week when he was also not playing.

"I took a week off and went to number one,'' he joked. "What a great system this is. Even though it was only one week, for me it felt like a couple of years.'' He is more confident of sealing a third straight triumph at Flushing Meadow than he was of retaining his title 12 months ago.

"I feel I have at least a chance,'' he said. "Last year I didn't think I had a chance but it's become more believable for me to win it this year. I really don't know what to expect, but you just go out and do it and you hope something comes back.

Rafter, who has taken a course of anti-inflammatory tablets for the pain, added: "I haven't really given it a rest yet. I'm pretty confident the first few matches it should be pretty good and we'll go from there.

"I've been pretty fortunate the last few years not to have been injured, but it has to catch up to you.

"This is coming at the most important part of the year for me, but when you put it all together I'm grateful it's nothing major,'' If he is to win a third successive US Open crown, Rafter is likely to face a final against top-ranked Pete Sampras or Andre Agassi, ranked two in the world and who knocked him out of the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Rafter leaves no doubt as to his preference.

"If I had to play anyone it would be Andre,'' he said. "But that's not much of a choice either. Pete's form has been dynamite and he's great on this quick surface. At the same time I don't want to meet Andre either.'' Last year Rafter twice came back from a set down to upset Sampras in the US Open semi-finals before beating compatriot Mark Philippoussis for the title.

There has been a little bad blood between the two, with Rafter criticising the world's best player for some of his mannerisms. While not backing down on what he said, Rafter explained that the media misinterpreted his remarks.

"I called him about a month ago and said some of the things were taken out of context,'' Rafter said. "The media were brutal on headlines -- `Rafter Hates Sampras.' I said a few of those things, but not that way.'' Rafter said Sampras thanked him for the call and said he appreciated it. "I was sweating bullets. We all say things and do things we're not proud of,'' Rafter added.

Rafter won a career best six titles in as many finals in 1998, but has claimed only one this year -- in Holland in the week before Wimbledon. But the Australian, who beat Canadian born Briton Greg Rusedski to win his first US Open in 1997, stressed: "I'm happy with what I've done so far this year and now I'm looking forward to the Open.'' Taking a tumble: Patrick Rafter will be hoping his injured shoulder has healed enough for him to play well enough to take a third successive US Open crown.