more serious than originally thought and he needs exploratory surgery, Australian Associated Press reported yesterday.

The news agency said Davis Cup captain John Newcombe was informed by telephone at his Texas ranch yesterday that Rafter would miss the Davis Cup final against France.

Rafter, who owns a home in Bermuda but is currently in Australia, will hold a press conference in Melbourne today.

Newcombe will now turn to Adelaide youngster Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis, coming back from knee and ankle problems, for the Cup final against France in Nice from December 3-5.

"An MRI scan showed the tear had only partially healed even though Pat has trained hard over the last six to eight weeks,'' AAP quoted a Tennis Australia official as saying.

"We were told there was every chance he would have recovered after three weeks, we gave him six weeks to be doubly sure, but we were told the wrong thing. After all the work he's done, he's still not right.'' Rafter, the world number one for a week in August, was due to return at the Paris Indoor on November 1 but officially withdrew his entry on Wednesday. He is also apparently in doubt for January's Australian Open.

Chasing a third US Open crown in September, Rafter pulled out during his first round and was forced to watch Australia's Davis Cup semi-final win over Russia from the sidelines.

He has spent the majority of the past two months practising with Davis Cup coach Tony Roche in Sydney.

Pat Rafter: injury is more serious than originally thought.