flipfanatic
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Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard / Scud could be finished
Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard
Leo Schlink with Candice Kellar
Herald Sun
November 28, 2007 12:00am
THE clock is ticking for Mark Philippoussis. The former world No. 8 has less than 72 hours to make the decision that could save his career.
If Philippoussis's name is missing from the list of wildcard playoff entrants for the Australian Open when the deadline closes at 5pm on Friday, his days as a grand slam and ATP player will be virtually over.
However Philippoussis, who is in Adelaide training with Davis Cup coach Darren Cahill, is reluctant to contest the December 15-21 playoff.
"I've been training my butt off and I love this game," he said after an hour-long session on court yesterday.
"If I didn't I wouldn't put myself through this."
"If (the wildcard tournament) is something that I feel like I need to do, then I'll make that decision at the time. Whatever happens, happens. I'm ready to play qualifiers if I have to.
"I'm not looking for miracles. Coming back I've got to be realistic and for me it's about my strength and my game."
The new Tennis Australia regime refuses to veer from its stance on handouts. Any player who wants a wildcard to the Open and lead-in events must sign on for the playoff. There are no exceptions, not even for a player as talented as Philippoussis.
With a protected ranking of 125 after a knee operation, Philippoussis wants wildcards to the Adelaide International and the January 14-27 Open.
Privately, some say the Victorian's standing as a dual Davis Cup winner and dual grand slam finalist is sufficient to earn him the main-draw passes.
Lleyton Hewitt has also offered his support.
However there are two significant issues Philippoussis has to overcome. One is perception. The other is fact.
The first relates to Philippoussis's fitness and form.
Since wrecking his right knee at the Hopman Cup in Perth on January 3, Philippoussis has played four matches, all on the over-30s circuit. He beat Todd Martin and Petr Korda and lost to Wayne Ferreira and 48-year-old John McEnroe.
However the most worrying aspect about Philippoussis is -- despite years of promises to the contrary -- his lack of practice-court hunger.
Sorry, Mark, but an hour a day, no matter how well-credentialled your coach, simply won't cut it.
Open officials including Craig Tiley and Steve Wood need to be convinced of Philippoussis's ability to survive a three-set ATP match, let alone five sets, in the Melbourne Park heat in six weeks.
Few would be prepared to back Philippoussis on that score.
Philippoussis's most daunting hurdle is TA's prevailing philosophy about wildcards.
Gone are the days when perennial failures would receive their annual handouts amid clarion trumpeting, only to disappear in the first round.
Under ATP rules, Philippoussis can use his protected ranking for eight tournaments over a six-month period. After that he is on his own.
He has only one avenue open and he must take it.
As Pat Rafter said last week, Mark, contest the playoff. If you win, you will have earned your spot. Lose, but show some form and desire, and you'll almost certainly get in at Melbourne Park -- probably Adelaide, too.
Standing stubbornly on pride won't cut it with Tiley and Wood. They are ruthless. They are looking to the future and they don't care that much about a 31-year-old whose actual world ranking is 1115.
However they are prepared to operate within the guidelines. Philippoussis ought to be brave enough to do the same.
- with Candice Kellar
Scud could be finished
Foxsports
By Leo Schlink
November 28, 2007
THE clock is ticking for Mark Philippoussis. The former world No.8 has less than 72 hours in which to make the decision that could save his career.
If Philippoussis's name is missing from the Australian Open wildcard playoff list when the entry deadline closes at 5pm on Friday, his days as a grand slam and ATP warrior will virtually be over.
Philippoussis, currently in Adelaide training with Davis Cup coach Darren Cahill, is reluctant to contest the December 15-21 wildcard playoff.
But the new Tennis Australia regime refuses to veer from its hardline stance on handouts.
Any player who wants a wildcard into the Australian Open, and the lead-in events preceding it, must sign on for the playoff.
There will be no exceptions, not even for a player as accomplished as Philippoussis.
Left red-faced and flustered by a Memorial Drive workout with Cahill, Philippoussis is staring at life beyond tennis.
But he said his love for the game was as strong as ever and he had no immediate plans to give it away.
"I've been training my butt off and I love this game," he said. "If I didn't I wouldn't put myself through this."
"If the wildcard tournament is something I need to do, then I'll make that decision at the time. Whatever happens, happens.
"I'm ready to play qualifiers if I have to. I'm just looking forward to playing some matches. I'm going to build my strength up as I go. I'm not looking for miracles, coming back I've got to be realistic and for me it's about my strength and my game."
Armed with a protected ranking of 125th after a knee operation, Philippoussis wants wildcards into the Next Generation Adelaide International and the January 14-27 Australian Open.
Privately, and there is significant support for Philippoussis from Lleyton Hewitt, there are those who believe the Victorian's standing as a dual Davis Cup winner and dual grand slam finalist is sufficient to earn him the main-draw passes.
But there are two significant issues Philippoussis has to overcome. The first relates to Philippoussis's fitness and form.
Since wrecking his right knee in Perth on January 3, Philippoussis has played only four matches -- all on the Champions' circuit, which doubles as a living museum of former greats.
He beat Todd Martin and Petr Korda and lost to Wayne Ferreira and 48-year-old John McEnroe.
Roger Federer lost to 36-year-old Pete Sampras at the weekend, proving again non-rankings point competition outside of Davis Cup should be treated cautiously.
The most worrying aspect about Philippoussis is, despite years of hollow promises to the contrary, his patent lack of practice court hunger.
Open officials need to be convinced of Philippoussis's ability to survive a three-set ATP match, let alone five sets in the Melbourne heat in six weeks.
Very few people would be prepared to back Philippoussis on that score.
Last edited by flipfanatic, 28/Nov/07, 16:56
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“It’s in my heart to give it one more go” - Mark
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28/Nov/07, 6:58
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Jill b
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Re: Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard
Be warned this is a rant...
What i am struggling to understand is why Mark hasn't made the decision to play the play-off already. He has known about the rules and conditions for months and had plenty of time to think about how he "feels" about it... It seems like this is one big game for Mark... stringing along the media and Craig Tiley till the very last moment... and in my opinion very childish behaviour and attitude.
I don't think Mark is getting much direction from anybody these days because the obvious thing to do weeks ago was to accept the play-off offer and be positive about it. By creating this drama and prolonging the decision till the very last minute is only hurting him. Mark should open his eyes a little wider and look upon Alicia Molik's efforts and attitude in 2006. She was no.8 in the world before injury and showed a lot of grace and class under pressure to win the play-off.
enough is enough, I don't like the play-off idea but i don't like the idea of Mark missing that match play even more so, and putting himself under greater pressure to win qualifying.
Sorry for the rant but this just seems like unnecessary attention seeking... wether it's intentional or not, at this point I do not agree with how Mark is handling it.
also this Journo makes a few good points.. 1 hour a day hitting is not enough... after all these years I am tired of hearing Mark say he is "training hard"... spend a week with Hewitt or Federer or any of the other top players for a week and he'll know he could be doing more. If it's because of the heat why not train a hour early morning and another hour late afternoon?
I will continue to cheer and support Mark no matter what, but the rubbish talk has to stop... he's 31, not 21 and only kidding himself.
Last edited by Jill b, 28/Nov/07, 8:37
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28/Nov/07, 8:19
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Clair21
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Re: Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard
CANDICE KELLER
November 28, 2007 01:15am
MARK Philippoussis is arguably the John Farnham of the tennis world ¿ reluctant to kiss his professional career goodbye, and a comeback veteran.
The Scud trained at Memorial Drive yesterday with South Australian tennis champion Darren Cahill, and stepped his training regime up a notch in a bid to relaunch his career.
Comfortable on court against Cahill, former coach of Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 8 said his love for the game was as strong as ever – so he was far from giving up.
"I've been training my butt off and I love this game," he said, after an hour-long session on court. "If I didn't I wouldn't put myself through this."
His third career revival has got off to a shaky start, however, with his failure to receive direct entry into the first tournament of the year, the Next Generation Adelaide International.
Philippoussis, who has a protected ranking of 112 because of a knee injury earlier this year, is likewise in danger of not making the direct draw for the Australian Open, which accepts 104 of its 128-player draw based on ranking.
He will need to consider playing in the wildcard tournament starting December 15 – but has not yet made a decision about entering.
"If (the wildcard tournament) is something that I feel like I need to do, then I'll make that decision at the time. Whatever happens, happens. I'm ready to play qualifiers if I have to.
"I'm just looking forward to playing some matches. I'm going to build my strength up as I go.
"I'm not looking for miracles coming back – I've got to be realistic and for me it's about my strength and my game."
During his session yesterday, experienced coach Cahill worked primarily on Philippoussis' back-hand and base-line game. The pair also tried some serves before Cahill, 42, beat his trainee in a first-to-five tiebreak-style shoot-out, 5-3.
While it's a long road ahead, the Scud is optimistic. In his mind, his form is better than at the same time last year.
"I'm not interested in what people have to say about me . . . I'm just thinking about playing my tennis, going to the gym and getting stronger.
"I'm a little lighter this year and just as keen, or maybe even keener . . . so I'm feeling good."
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"It's a long way to talk about something like that but, in my heart, for myself, I do believe." - Mark
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28/Nov/07, 10:48
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flipfanatic
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Re: Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard
quote:
Jill b wrote:
Be warned this is a rant...
What i am struggling to understand is why Mark hasn't made the decision to play the play-off already. He has known about the rules and conditions for months and had plenty of time to think about how he "feels" about it... It seems like this is one big game for Mark... stringing along the media and Craig Tiley till the very last moment... and in my opinion very childish behaviour and attitude.
I don't think Mark is getting much direction from anybody these days because the obvious thing to do weeks ago was to accept the play-off offer and be positive about it. By creating this drama and prolonging the decision till the very last minute is only hurting him. Mark should open his eyes a little wider and look upon Alicia Molik's efforts and attitude in 2006. She was no.8 in the world before injury and showed a lot of grace and class under pressure to win the play-off.
enough is enough, I don't like the play-off idea but i don't like the idea of Mark missing that match play even more so, and putting himself under greater pressure to win qualifying.
Sorry for the rant but this just seems like unnecessary attention seeking... wether it's intentional or not, at this point I do not agree with how Mark is handling it.
also this Journo makes a few good points.. 1 hour a day hitting is not enough... after all these years I am tired of hearing Mark say he is "training hard"... spend a week with Hewitt or Federer or any of the other top players for a week and he'll know he could be doing more. If it's because of the heat why not train a hour early morning and another hour late afternoon?
I will continue to cheer and support Mark no matter what, but the rubbish talk has to stop... he's 31, not 21 and only kidding himself.
I understand how you feel Jill and to some degree I agree.
It could be however that Mark is purposely holding back his intentions as he always tries to keep things as private as possible. I'm not saying this is a good idea, it is just a possibility and Mark will always do what he feels is right for him.
I do hope that he is getting very good guidance. The more time he spends with Darren Cahill the better I feel about Mark's return. As far as his work ethic, he may be following some advice on that and will build his efforts as the weeks roll-on. If it wasn't Mark's home grand slam, I would advise him to give it a miss and keep working on regaining his strength and stamina.
I think Alicia is a very good example and I hope that Mark will decide to play the WC playoff. He is already saying he is prepared to play qualifying where needed and that is a positive step.
I wish we had all the answers and knew what Mark is thinking, however, we will NEVER really know...
Val
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“It’s in my heart to give it one more go” - Mark
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28/Nov/07, 16:51
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Jill b
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Re: Mark Philippoussis running out of time for wildcard / Scud could be finished
Val I agree things like his love life should be kept private - but this is a simple decision that really should've been decided already. I just think its wrong he hasn't addressed it sooner, especially if he's not playing... why the need to tell tournament director right on the entry closing date is what I don't understand.
you're right, the man is a complete and utter mystery!
Last edited by Jill b, 28/Nov/07, 21:34
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28/Nov/07, 21:12
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