Marcia5
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Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/tennis/time-is-right-for-one-more-shot/2008/11/27/1227491737867.html
Time is right for one more shot
Linda Pearce
November 28, 2008
AS THE retirement clock ticks steadily on, Mark Philippoussis remains several kilograms and some months from a competitive return. The dual grand slam finalist is unlikely to be ready as planned for the new Adelaide exhibition in January, and admits his body may never be ready again.
Philippoussis has not hit for several months, nor played seriously since re-injuring his knee at the Australian Open wildcard play-off last December. "Next year" is as specific as the 32-year-old will be on his timetable for a tournament return, having withdrawn from several seniors events this season. A Memorial Drive scratching is probably next.
Does Philippoussis really believe it is realistic to come back one more time? One last time?
"It doesn't matter how well you hit the ball. If you can't get to the ball there's no point, right?" he said.
"So the thing for me … it's in my heart to give it one more go, and at the end of the day it comes down to my body. If my body doesn't allow it, it doesn't matter how much my heart wants it or my mind wants it. Yes, definitely. In my heart I honestly believe (I can make it back), 100 per cent, but I know what it's going to take for me to get to that level. It's going to take a hell of a lot of hard work and discipline.
"In my heart I just feel like it's unfinished, but who knows whether my body will be strong enough …
"I think I'd be more selective in my events — obviously in the start when you have no ranking it's tough to be selective, don't get me wrong — but even if you get the ranking up there again I can't see myself just grinding, week in, week out."
Just one week in would be good right now, but Philippoussis insists he is in no rush to unzip his racquets. His priority is to strengthen his atypical top-heavy tennis body through the core and legs, and to lose weight — while retaining faith that his ball-striking ability remains intact and the rest will follow.
The hero of two Davis Cup finals says he is swimming and working out, watching more tennis on TV than he ever did while playing. He is happily settled back in Melbourne's west, adjusting slowly to the cold weather while pursuing plans with his father, Nick, for a small tennis academy.
While his old Davis Cup teammate Pat Rafter prepares for the revamped Australian Open Legends event, Philippoussis — his knees structurally sound but suffering from years of pounding and carting around their often-heavy load — is still clinging to the hope that his future is at ATP level. As, all the while, time tick, tick, ticks.
"It's in my heart to give it one more go and that's what the most important thing is — no matter what anyone else thinks or what anyone else expects, it doesn't matter," he said. "All that matters is what makes me happy, and it'll make me happy to give it another go, but for that to happen it will be tough."
Philippoussis said he was not setting any deadlines, determined not to take any risks, aware that when he has moved well he has played the same way.
He would, he said, look to "soon" get back on court, and then "if my body's feeling great it's something I'd give a call to my manager Rob (Aivatoglou) and say 'OK, what are my options? What's out there? What kind of tournaments are out there?' and I'll go from there.
"Obviously I'm 32 years old, it comes into being realistic. It's not like I'm going to go out and have another knee surgery and when I'm 35 go 'you know what? I'd like to give it one more go'.
"Obviously it's not going to happen, and I'm the type of person who, when it's time to move on, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to life after tennis. I have no problem with that."
Mark Philippoussis rules out Australian Open
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24718122-3162,00.html
Amelia Harris
November 28, 2008 12:00am
MARK Philippoussis has ruled himself out of the Australian Open, but has not thrown away his tennis racquet just yet.
Philippoussis, 32, said yesterday it was "unrealistic" to compete at the first grand slam of 2009.
"I can't expect the first couple of tournaments coming back to be best-of-five-set tournaments," he said. "I'd be crazy to think that."
The former world No. 8, who is living in Melbourne, has not played on the regular tour since 2006 because of recurring knee injuries.
He is focused on getting fitter and hopes to lose about 10kg.
"I've lost like four kilos in the past month," Philippoussis said.
"I'm a big boy. I'm probably around 100kg.
"I'd love to get down to 90kg. Probably the last time I was 90, maybe I was 18 years old.
"For me to have a chance of getting back out there I need to be as light as possible."
Philippoussis said he hoped to get back to where he once was.
"My heart would like to give it one more go," he said.
"Whether that's realistic, whether my body is going to allow that I will have to wait and see."
Fellow Australian Peter Luczak has overcome a stress fracture in his pelvis and will play at the Australian Open wildcard playoffs, which start on December 15.
Last edited by flipfanatic, 28/Nov/08, 18:22
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28/Nov/08, 7:08
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Jill b
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Re: Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
It's like an early Christmas present Marcia.. It's just so comforting to hear him say some of these things we've all been discussing about all year.
His weight as always been my biggest gripe and its nice to hear he plans on trying to slim down... there's the debate on how long that will take, lol, if he digs in and is disciplined he should be cutting a top figure by Febuary... but we all know Mark tends to take a laid back approach to things and time still doesn't seem to be ticking very loud in his ear 
Overall, it's just nice to finally know how he's feeling, what he plans for the short term and long term.
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28/Nov/08, 8:20
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Clair21
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Re: Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
Hi all,
It's great to hear from Mark, to know how he's feeling and his intentions. All 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/08, 15:38
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flipfanatic
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Re: Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
It's so great to hear from Mark  I think Mark sounds positive but also realistic so it's all good.
I'm not sure this is the right climate to plan property development or a Tennis Academy but its still good to hear that Mark is thinking of the future.
Initially it would be just great to see Mark be able to play a couple of Outback events before he considers anything else.
Val
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“It’s in my heart to give it one more go” - Mark
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28/Nov/08, 17:46
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nicky76
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Registered: 11-2008
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scud thank ya for years .. of good tennis, 2 davis cup is good effort mate!!
hey.. I hope mark read this...
I can't believe, I'm say this to you.. I want to wish you all the luck in what u want to do in life! I'll miss watch you play at aussie open plus other match you play...
Im glad I saw you last dec, coz if that was your last match, I was there show ya,support you.. but I didn't say nothing to ya match to ya wog boy mate lol what can I say lol that movie was good...
by reading the herald sun 2day.. I can't see ya coming back.. do listen your heart, I wish u could back.. I be here support ya..
If not I just want to so thank you.. it funny, over 11years I did follow your careers, im glad I was your fan, you were my hero .. u never give up, u do have big heart.. just remember this lol pat rafter all he want was davis cup but it wasn't mean to be, instead he wins 2 usa open ...
P.s I just hope media would leave you alone! it hard to say bye to tennis champs..
hopeful u have better luck in new career...
nikki oxoxo
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28/Nov/08, 18:14
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Lyndus
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Re: Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
Great to finally hear from Mark.
Good to hear that he still has the desire to run several miles on a Tennis Court. Sad to hear that he can't realy move well due to his well known knee problems.
It would be nice to see him get down to about 95KG's, I think 90KG's maybe pushing it.
If he isn't realy hitting many/any balls as yet Then I think it would be unrealistic too see him back playing a seniors event before maybe June.
I truly Hope I'm wrong about that.
All that being said though, its great to hear from Mark again.
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29/Nov/08, 18:12
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flipfanatic
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Re: Finally, comments from Mark! - Time is right for one more shot (Linda Pearce article)
Hey everyone 
I don't know if it will be June before we see Mark in a seniors event but I do think it will be a few months. On the one hand I want Mark to give up the dream and save himself from any future injuries, on the other, I would love to see Mark play some seniors events and have the chance to play summer 2010 so he can officially say good bye to his fans in Australia.
I just don't see Mark playing the atp tour, his body can't take that anymore. I would be over the moon just to see Mark stay healthy playing seniors events and a few opportunities to farewell the fans with wildcards on the atp tour.
Val
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“It’s in my heart to give it one more go” - Mark
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6/Dec/08, 11:01
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