NEWSWEEK CHAMPIONS CUP

March 13, 1997

Mark Philippoussis

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yeah. I mean, for me I served I think smart out there, mixed up my serve a lot. I'm sure hopefully I proved to some people that I haven't just got a serve. I hardly hit any big serves out there. A lot of spin. I used my groundstrokes a lot and came into the net when I had to.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Great relief actually, definitely.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Match by match, I feel like my groundstrokes are getting a lot more dangerous, a lot more heavier. I feel extremely comfortable with my groundstrokes at the moment, very consistent. My serves also, great rhythm on my serve. When I try and hit one hard, I feel confidence when I go into it. At the moment I'm just playing good, solid tennis all around.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, I felt pretty good, getting massaged, relaxing, feeling pretty good.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I mean, just working on getting a lot tougher mentally. Obviously, you know, worked hard on fitness as well. I'm feeling great on the court. Getting myself a lot more tougher, a lot more eager out there. He can't really make me get eager; that's coming from myself. I feel a lot more hungrier to win more matches. Actually, I'm enjoying it, loving being out there at the moment, you know.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Sure. I was really looking forward to today's match also. Moya is obviously a great player, can play some great, solid tennis. Obviously he's a baseliner. I felt like I could rally with him, you know, today. I felt comfortable from the back with him. Against Muster, probably no one as heavy on the groundstrokes as him. Hopefully I'm just going to play good tennis, I have been all week, just try my best. That's all I can do.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Philippoussis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Philippoussis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: 20.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, wouldn't worry me. I definitely want to be playing at night because I play doubles tomorrow. Night or day, I'll play the same way. That rhymed (laughter).

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Becoming a hobby.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, I feel -- I like doing that. That's something fun. Whenever I've got a chance to do a smash instead of hitting it normal, I like jumping.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I don't know. If I had to, I have no idea.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Sorry?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, there's moments where I can. Depends how pumped up I am, if I've got a springboard under me.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Sometimes I have. There's moments where you feel a lot better physically, you feel like you can. Other times you can't.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: My goals were to get well inside the Top 20. Of course, the Top 10, I'm capable of doing that I think. I have the game to do it. I know I always said this. The thing that's going to matter would be my self-discipline; if I really want to get there, if I'm hungry enough to make it. At the moment I am hungry and have that desire to get there.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I've never doubted my ability, but I have doubted my desire in the past. It was actually a shame when I was injured, in Sydney, but also probably was maybe good for me at the same time. Just got to sit back and realized whether I really wanted to play tennis and if I really wanted to be the best I could be.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, it was a big win, nothing different. It was another match. I'm in the quarters now, take it match by match. I'm going to play another match tomorrow. I'm not going to worry about Muster being at the other end. It's just another tennis player. I'll just play another match like normal.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I'm just going to have to play solid, you know, just play like I've been playing last week and this week, like today's match. I'm not going to have to do something extreme; I've just got to play some good, solid tennis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I don't even really think about, you know, how many matches I've won. It's nothing compared to what Muster or Pete have won, anyone else. I mean, I'm just going to go out there. It's another match. I'm going to play some solid tennis, win another match in a row and do the same thing the next day.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I've had pretty long days with singles and doubles. Go back, have a swim, jump in the Jacuzzi, massage, eat, watch a movie, go to bed.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, depends where you are. Here probably if we got some time, play as much golf as we can. We've got some beautiful courses here. All the players can play as much as they want, so probably play golf, go out to the movies. I don't know, whatever there is to do.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I'm not really one of those people to go on a Tour for some sightings. Obviously we get to play in some beautiful places. That's as much as I do. Obviously I look outside and say it's beautiful, whatever it is, a castle, wherever we are. That's as far as I go.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I played a few tournaments when I was young.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: For a few years.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I feel comfortable on any surface I play on, so it doesn't worry me.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I'm playing -- the thing is I'm playing good tennis here and my concentration is here. It won't matter wherever I am. If I'm playing good tennis and I've got good concentration, I feel I'll have good results there, too. This is my fourth tournament, I'm playing good tennis and I'm here. I'll play my good tennis here.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Sure. Today I didn't go out there and blast winners everywhere. I worked for my points. A short ball and then I went for it. I mean, I feel like I've got a comfortable all-around game. I feel very confident. If my serve's not off, I can still kick it in and work for my point. Sure, I used to go for winners too early. I've matured a lot since then and win a point by hitting a winner, just realizing if he misses, you also win a point; you don't have to hit a winner every time. I feel comfortable.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: The thing is, last year when I played Pete, played a great match. I was also at home. I still wasn't as mature as now. I've grown up a lot since then. Lots of things have happened since then. I was up in Sky 9 and hadn't come down till two weeks later. Sort of felt like when I played Mark Woodforde, I've really achieved something and I really cared about what happened against Mark. I wasn't there for the match, which was completely wrong. Now, I beat Andre. It was a good win. I beat Andre. But, you know, it's different if I beat Andre in a final, because I've won the tournament. It was the first round. You've got to keep on going. It's just another match. Take it match by match, no matter who I play.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: It pleases me. I think about it maybe till ten minutes or probably that night, then tomorrow is the next day and I've got to play another match. I've got to start all over again. I can't really think about the win I've had against Andre two days later.