US OPEN

August 30, 1997

Mark Philippoussis

Q. Todd Woodbridge said that you and Patrick Rafter should play the doubles in the Davis Cup and not the Woodies. What do you think about that comment?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I wasn't aware of that comment until now.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I think a guy is saying something like that out of anger. I think he's just upset. He's going to calm down. He's professional enough to know, to work out some things. You know, really the Woodies playing doubles, they're the best in the world. No one can beat them. I think just wait for Todd to calm down.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I have no idea about that. I don't want to comment about that. I just want to worry about myself.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, it could be better definitely.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I mean, I gave him -- I definitely built his confidence during the match. At the start, first game, 15-40, you've just got to put them away from then. 2-Love up, 3-Love up. Had mini breaks in the tiebreaker twice, easy volley, double-fault. Can't afford to do these things. If I just play the tiebreaker just normal, without unforced errors, 7-6, it's a different story. Just sort of built his confidence.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I mean, the double-faults that I hit, I didn't like go for them. Wasn't a big second serve. Just tried to kick them in, serve and volley. I didn't have a ball toss, whatever. I mean, I didn't really go for that much.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I think we go to Washington. Relax, play at the club where we're playing Davis Cup. Just get ready. Play some golf, whatever. Just get ready for the tie.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I have no idea till two days before the Davis Cup starts.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Like I said, you know, it doesn't worry me. Just whatever is best for the team, for Australia, whoever is playing the best singles will be playing.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, it's not like there's a great difference. A tennis match is just -- it's all about a few points here and there. It's not like I've been playing terrible, completely different than the last few months. It's just that the important points are the ones that count. Thought it would be better, a bit more aggressive. I won three or four matches; you don't know what can happen. Just a few points that separate winning matches.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I mean, I feel confident on my groundstrokes. Just that sometimes, you know, the thing is the intensity or the footwork of getting to the groundstroke. Or once you get there, not going for too much, what shot to play. I feel very confident in all parts of my groundstrokes, my volley. It's just for me, it's knowing what shot to play at what time is the most important thing for me. That comes through playing, you know, being more mature. I'm 20 years old. That's just going to come for me in the next couple of years.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. Normally when I lose, I don't want it enough. It's never that, you know, I wanted it too badly.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I mean, I felt relaxed. Just doing my normal thing, practicing, having a bit of fun, just ready for a match. Like I said, it's just those first few points in the tiebreaker. Just didn't take my chances, that's it.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, I was hungry. I don't show it as much as other people, but I really am.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I don't know. I couldn't even care.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, guys are serving stronger all the time. The serve will keep on getting bigger. I don't know if the technology or the racquet is going to go for that, whatever happens to the balls. Anything's possible.