EUROCARD OPEN

October 25, 1999

Mark Philippoussis

ATP: Questions for Mark, please.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I would have liked to have come off well with some good tournaments to start off. I'm just trying to be realistic. I've been training extremely hard, feeling physically great. It does take a couple matches, just playing those tough points. Today, these last two weeks, definitely helped. I played the tough points extremely well. No double-faults; didn't go for anything silly. I made him try to win the points. It was a lot better. I'm very happy with it.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I tried to come back too soon. I definitely wasn't ready. That's pretty much where it was. I had some great training. I went to Miami , been training there a couple months now. I'm definitely ready now.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, No. I was concentrating extremely well. I didn't get frustrated. It was just another point. All I said to myself, "First serve in." Played a good serve, hit an ace. Second serve, "Gee, you might as well go for it down the middle, just make him play." He played it, hit a passing shot. Just playing some smart tennis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I'm just concentrating on these tournaments. To be quite honest, I'm not thinking about Davis Cup at all. When the time comes to think about that, prepare for that, then I will. The way I'm looking at it, we're the underdogs going in. There's no pressure on us playing in France on slow clay. We've got nothing to lose. They're playing in front of their country; they've got the pressure on themselves.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I have, actually, for four days to visit my mom and my sister.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I haven't been there, but I'm sure it is. The Australians take pride in team events, and take Davis Cup very seriously.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Don't like rugby at all. Don't understand the sport (laughter).

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: They're slowing down everything. Definitely trying to slow down the courts. You can slow down the balls. No matter what kind of balls you give us, they get fluffier, you can make the balls bigger, guys are going to still serve aces. Doesn't matter about that. Guys return well. Right now, everyone's serve is getting bigger, everyone is returning well. Doesn't matter if they slow down the courts, slow down the balls, people serve aces. If they keep slowing down the balls, players are going to get injured, shoulders are going to hurt, your arm is going to ache. There will be no players left.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Balls are slow, yes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Actually, I prefer, yeah, winning the way I did today. Coming back from some breakpoints, winning the match. Would have been easier winning in straight sets. I know I've been in the situation before, been a couple breakpoints down and come back. Good feeling going into the next match.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: It will be very exciting. I'm looking forward to it, definitely.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I'm not going to go for it. There's no reason why I can't win. I have two tournaments under my belt. I've won some matches. The guy is definitely a great player. He's No. 1 in the world, has had an unbelievable year. Doesn't matter. I don't care who's on the other side of the net. If I play good tennis, it's going to be tough for him. It's also going to be tough for me, but I'm looking forward to it.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes, he's here.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: He's been in London and with Gavin in Miami for the last two months.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Cash on the telephone.