flipfanatic
Head Administrator
Global user (premium)
Registered: 02-2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1141
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Round 1 articles
Scud justifies wildcard with first-round win
London
June 28, 2006 - 2:52AM
Australia's Mark Philippoussis justified his Wimbledon wildcard with a hard-fought first-round victory over No.32 seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.
Philippoussis, ranked 210th, beat world No.35 Mathieu 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-6 (14-12) to set up a second-round meeting with either Max Mirnyi of Belarus or Spain's Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo.
It wasn't until the final game of the opening set that the first break of serve came in the match, allowing Mathieu to take the early advantage.
In the second set tiebreak Philippoussis broke Mathieu when the Frenchman sent a forehand long to go 3-2 up, but Philippoussis surrendered the mini-break on the next point with a double fault.
He broke Mathieu again two points later before a netted volley left the scores at 5-5.
Edging ahead with an ace Philippoussis, won the following point on Mathieu's serve to take the tiebreak 7-5 and level the match at one set all.
The Australian made a decisive break in the sixth game of the third set pave the way for a two sets to one lead but made hard going of the fourth set tiebreak, finally converting his sixth match point to win in three hours and 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Alicia Molik breezed into the second round with a straight-sets win over Taiwanese qualifier Yung-Jan Chan 7-5 6-1.
Molik, the former world No.8 now ranked 260 after a long-term inner-ear problem, will next play the winner of the match between No.21 seed Katarina Srebotnik and Martina Sucha.
Lleyton Hewitt's scheduled first-round match against Italy's Filippo Volandri was postponed until day three of the Championships as organisers played program catch-up after rain allowed less than an hour's play on Monday.
McNamara reunion coaching bonus for Scud
Leo Schlink
28jun06
PETER McNamara has returned to the Mark Philippoussis camp as coach for the third time.
Former world No. 7 McNamara, who last worked with Philippoussis in March 2003, is again collaborating with the wallowing dual grand slam finalist.
Thought to be only a temporary arrangement, the McNamara appointment is still highly significant.
Philippoussis has achieved some of his best -- now distant -- results under his fellow Victorian and clearly shares much common ground.
McNamara's reunion with Philippoussis has been kept largely underground with the dual Davis Cup winner electing to use Stoke Park, west of London, as his training base ahead of Wimbledon.
McNamara coached Philippoussis as a junior and again from 2002-03, when his form peaked with an appearance in the Wimbledon final.
Since then, Philippoussis has worked with Andrew Florent and Archie Adams.
Other coaches include Pat Cash, Gavin Hopper, Boris Becker, Tony Roche, Mike de Palmer, Todd Viney and Philippoussis' father, Nick.
McNamara has been steadfastly supportive of Philippoussis, frequently declaring his belief in a man many contend has wasted a marvellous talent because of a poor work ethic.
At the All England Club to compete in the veterans doubles with long-time partner Paul McNamee, McNamara coaches in Melbourne at the National Tennis Centre.
Ranked 210th in the world, Philippoussis is on virtually his last chance at Wimbledon.
A wildcard entrant into the 120th championships, the 29-year-old needs desperately to produce a solid performance to convince tournament directors he is worth supporting.
Failure to defeat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu would serve only to hasten his demise. Philippoussis showed signs of a welcome revival by reaching the third round at Queen's Club.
He won two matches in seven hours against established grasscourters Wes Moodie and Sebastien Grosjean before losing to Fernando Gonzalez.
WIMBLEDON'S curse was the Australian tennis community's gain when rain washed out play on Monday in the soggiest start to the tournament in 15 years.
As mid-summer rain ended southern England's drought, Australia's tennis elite was given a timely release from All England Club duties.
Wayne Arthurs, Sam Stosur, Stephen Huss, Paul Hanley, Christina Wheeler and Nathan Healey took the opportunity to bolt from tennis obligations to watch Australia's ill-fated World Cup loss to Italy on television.
Surrounded by coaches Paul Kilderry and Andrew Florent, the Australians roared their support in the Wimbledon village for Guus Hiddink's galvanising outfit.
Play at Wimbledon was delayed, suspended and then abandoned on a depressing opening day without any matches being completed.
Only 35 minutes of play took place before the weather stalled triple defending champion Roger Federer's bid to break Bjorn Borg's professional era (since 1968) record of 41 grasscourt wins in a row.
It marked the wettest start to the event since 1991 when no play took place on the first day of the tournament.
Good weather is forecast for the rest of the week.
Last edited by flipfanatic, 28/Jun/06, 4:04
---
"Nothing in life is easy. You have to fight. It is just another set back... One thing I know is that I’m going to take care of it and go again. It’s the only thing that I can do. It’s the only thing I want to do. " - Mark
|
|
28/Jun/06, 2:47
|
Send Email to flipfanatic
Send PM to flipfanatic
|
Marcia5
Registered user
Global user
Registered: 02-2006
Posts: 466
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Article from Wimbledon site (thanks Val!)
Philippoussis Wins in Four Sets
Tuesday, 27 June, 2006
Mark Philippoussis maintained his record as one of the great fighters in the Wimbledon field as he came from behind to defeat 32nd seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France in the first round on No. 2 Court.
Playing in his tenth Wimbledon, Philippoussis was in difficulty against the opening challenge of Mathieu, five years his junior, but recovered from losing the first set to come through 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 7-6 (14-12).
In a tense and demanding fourth set tie-break Mathieu, battling for survival, missed three set points and saved four match points before Philippoussis took the match on his fifth chance with a backhand winner.
Philippoussis may have started as a back marker because, for the third time, he was in the Wimbledon field as a wild card. He has an appearance in the 2003 final on his Wimbledon record and the Australian, at 29, has always been able to rely on his heavy serving to keep himself in matches.
Mathieu came up against all of these factors to realise that playing Philippoussis at Wimbledon was never going to be straightforward. It was their first meeting and the Frenchman, seeded for the first time, must have believed he had a chance of victory this time, after having had no chance against world No. 1 Roger Federer last year.
But Mathieu was playing only his 13th match on grass while Philippoussis was playing his 68th, for 45 wins. On grass there is no question that Philippoussis knows the business and he proved it today the longer the match progressed. He served 39 aces against seven by Mathieu.
After two hours and seven minutes Philippoussis had his nose in front for the first time as he gained a lead of two sets to one. But he needed another 68 minutes to take the fourth set and win through.
The deciding tie-break was a test of nerve and concentration with both players straining to take command. Initially it was Philippoussis who was in control with a 5-2 lead, but the tie-break went to 26 points before the match was over.
Written by Barry Newcombe
|
|
28/Jun/06, 9:06
|
Send Email to Marcia5
Send PM to Marcia5
|
Add a reply
Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b - Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
Click here to get your own free message board
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 13/May/08, 21:30
|
|
|
