London, July 05: Australian Mark Philippoussis has completed an amazing comeback from injury, beating Frenchman Sebastian Grosjean in straight sets to book a place in his first Wimbledon final against the winner of the second semifinal between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andy Roddick of the United States. Unseeded Australian Mark Philippoussis thrashed Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 7-6 6-3 6-3 on Friday (July 4) to reach the first Wimbledon final of his career. The 26-year-old, who has been dogged by knee problems in recent years, coupled thumping serves with a string of destructive baseline winners to reach his second grand slam final on Friday (July 4) in London. Like his opponent, Grosjean was playing in his first Wimbledon semi-final but the 13th seed, conqueror of Tim Henman in the quarter-finals, could not live with Philippoussis's power. The Australian, the 1998 U.S. Open finalist, took his aces tally to 164 with 11 more against his French opponent. Philippousis is chasing Croatian Goran Ivanisevic's Wimbledon record of 212 aces in the tournament set in 2001.


He will play Swiss player Roger Federer, the fourth seed, in the final on Sunday (July 6).


Match statistics for the men's singles semi-final match between unseeded Mark Philippoussis of Australia and 13th seed Sebastien Grosjean of France at the Wimbledon tennis championships on Friday.


Philippoussis Grosjean Aces 11 5 Service winners 3 0 Double faults 3 2 1st serve in % 55 51 1st serve points won % 89 78 2nd serve points won % 63 55 Unforced errors 13 11 Total points won 96 78 Break points won 3/8 0/2 Fastest first serve (mph) 131 125 Fastest second serve (mph) 124 98 Average first serve (mph) 119 111 Average second serve (mph) 108 87 Match duration one hour and fifty six minutes


Bureau Report