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No longer the rebel, Scud in new light
Melbourne, Nov 18: Mark Philippoussis, the former bad boy of Australian tennis, will achieve a remarkable turnaround when he leads his country in the Davis Cup final against Spain later this month.
Melbourne, Nov 18: Mark Philippoussis, the former bad boy of Australian tennis, will achieve a remarkable turnaround when he leads his country in the Davis Cup final against Spain later this month.
The ninth ranked Philippoussis will be Australia's top singles player, ousting former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, for the final to be played over the weekend of November 28-30 on a specially-laid grass court in Melbourne.
The 27-year-old, nicknamed 'The Scud' because of his powerful service, will return to his hometown to lead the Australians more than five years after he threatened to abandon the Davis Cup altogether.
Upon returning to Davis Cup action in 1999, Philippoussis beat France's Cedric Pioline in the final on clay in Nice to give the visiting Australians their 27th Davis Cup title.
However in 2000, when he began to be bothered by knee problems that threatened his career, he was told by Rafter to ''make up his mind'' about whether he wanted to play Davis Cup again.
''It's disappointing. I guess he doesn't feel like playing Davis Cup,'' Rafter said ahead of the semi-final with Brazil in July 2000. ''I just wish he'd come out and say something, how he's feeling, just clear the air.
''I'd respect him a lot more for it than jerking us around, telling us he's going to play, then not showing up to play.''
After missing the 2001 final, which Australia surprisingly lost to France on grass in Melbourne, Philippoussis has slowly regained his form and made the Wimbledon final this year.
He has also been a mainstay of the Australian team in their wins in the Davis Cup against Britain, Sweden and Switzerland this year and will be joined by Hewitt, Wayne Arthurs and doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge for the final.
Hewitt, who has slipped to number 17 in the world, has not played since the Davis Cup semi-final victory over Switzerland in September.
The former US Open and Wimbledon champion was expected to be the first player to arrive in Melbourne for the final, with him taking practice today.
Members of the Spanish team were not expected to arrive in Melbourne until Wednesday with their first practice session scheduled for Thursday.
Bureau Report
The ninth ranked Philippoussis will be Australia's top singles player, ousting former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, for the final to be played over the weekend of November 28-30 on a specially-laid grass court in Melbourne.
The 27-year-old, nicknamed 'The Scud' because of his powerful service, will return to his hometown to lead the Australians more than five years after he threatened to abandon the Davis Cup altogether.
Upon returning to Davis Cup action in 1999, Philippoussis beat France's Cedric Pioline in the final on clay in Nice to give the visiting Australians their 27th Davis Cup title.
However in 2000, when he began to be bothered by knee problems that threatened his career, he was told by Rafter to ''make up his mind'' about whether he wanted to play Davis Cup again.
''It's disappointing. I guess he doesn't feel like playing Davis Cup,'' Rafter said ahead of the semi-final with Brazil in July 2000. ''I just wish he'd come out and say something, how he's feeling, just clear the air.
''I'd respect him a lot more for it than jerking us around, telling us he's going to play, then not showing up to play.''
After missing the 2001 final, which Australia surprisingly lost to France on grass in Melbourne, Philippoussis has slowly regained his form and made the Wimbledon final this year.
He has also been a mainstay of the Australian team in their wins in the Davis Cup against Britain, Sweden and Switzerland this year and will be joined by Hewitt, Wayne Arthurs and doubles specialist Todd Woodbridge for the final.
Hewitt, who has slipped to number 17 in the world, has not played since the Davis Cup semi-final victory over Switzerland in September.
The former US Open and Wimbledon champion was expected to be the first player to arrive in Melbourne for the final, with him taking practice today.
Members of the Spanish team were not expected to arrive in Melbourne until Wednesday with their first practice session scheduled for Thursday.
Bureau Report