Melbourne, Sept 17: Mark Philippoussis is looking forward to facing the man who beat him to the Wimbledon title, Roger Federer, when Australia play Switzerland in their Davis Cup semi-final, which started yesterday.
''Obviously it's going to be huge,'' the big-serving Australian told a news conference on Tuesday. 'This is going to be a totally different match, Davis Cup, a different situation. I think it's something we're both looking forward to.
''Roger can play on any surface so it's going to be a tough one.''
Federer, 22, beat Philippoussis 7-6 6-2 7-6 to win his maiden grand slam title in July. Philippoussis, 26, was restricted to gym work on Monday but was back on court on Tuesday at Melbourne Park's rebound ace courts.

''I'm feeling pretty good. I can't complain. I had a bit of a cough but it's a lot better.''



Melbourne's Philippoussis and his Adelaide-born team mate Lleyton Hewitt declared themselves fully fit after injury and illness concerns.



Hewitt said he had recovered from a hip muscle injury which slowed him down during the US Open earlier this month where he lost in the quarter-finals to Spain's world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.



''I've had treatment since I played Ferrero,'' former world number one Hewitt said. ''I've had a lot of tightness in my hip flexor and I just couldn't push up on my serve.



''At the moment I haven't felt it at all in practice. Hopefully it's going to go away and I'm not going to have a problem this weekend.



''Against Ferrero I felt like I was playing as well as I've probably played for most of the year,'' the 2001 US Open winner added. ''I had chances to go up two sets to one and it wasn't meant to be.''



Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002, has watched his ranking drop from first to seventh this year after missing the semi-finals of all four grand slam tournaments.



''We'll wait and see how I go on Friday. I'm hoping I can continue that (US Open) form this weekend,'' Hewitt said. ''Since I arrived here on Saturday I have gone pretty hard on my singles game.



''I'm moving well, I'm feeling eager.''



The draw for the three-day tie will be held at Melbourne Park, the Australian Open venue, on Thursday.


Bureau Report