SYDNEY Australian tennis star Pat Rafter secretly donated around half his winnings from last year's U.S. Open to help sick children, his mother revealed on Tuesday. Rafter's mother Jocelyn told ABC Radio that her son donated the money to fund a leisure room for terminally ill children at a Brisbane hospital after his victory in New York last year. He likes to share, he likes to help to do things for people and particularly for children, she said.

I don't know if that has anything to do with coming from a big family where the whole family is orientated that way anyway. Rafter received a cheque for U.S.$650,000 after he beat Briton Greg Rusedski in the final of last year's U.S. Open at Flushing Meadow to win his only Grand Slam title to date. The 25-year-old Australian, who has five brothers and three sisters, warmed up for the defense of his title on August 31 by beating world number two Pete Sampras in the final of the ATP Championship on Sunday. Rafter's brother Steve said the player regularly donated money to charities but did not like to publicize the fact.

Pat didn't want it known that he had made the donation and I don't know what he will think about it getting out, Steve said. This is part of an on-going situation where Pat is supporting charities he particularly likes. (Reuter)