TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 27, 2000

Mark Philippoussis

ATP: Questions for Mark.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Obviously you remember the last match you played against the opponent. But every match you play is different. I'm sure he'd have liked to get revenge. He came out firing, but I got the early break which sort of kept him out of it. I was very happy the way I played today. I was a bit lucky and I was happy.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: They were tough. But I live in Miami. I train in these conditions when I'm here. Pretty much windy when I'm here every day. It's tough for both players to cope with.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I didn't really do that much wrong from Love-40. I mean, the guy, good second serve, an ace, deep second serve again, played some good points. I had to keep my cool. I'm the one who's up a set and it's 5-All. I just kept my cool and held my serve. Just tried to play some tough tennis. If he would have won the set, I would have made him win it with some good points.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yeah. I mean, you know, I've trained hard enough. I have enough, you know, confidence in myself to know that, you know, the training that I've done, if I need to stay out there for three hours to win the match, I'm going to do that. Whatever it takes to win the match, I'm going to do. I'm just concentrating really well at the moment. That's what I'm happy about.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I mean, I'm 23 now (laughter). You know, I love the game at the moment. I'm enjoying the challenge out there. I'm enjoying the tough points, when it gets in the tiebreakers, the way the crowd's into it. We're playing some good tennis out there. It's really enjoyable for both - obviously for the person who ends up winning. But I'm just enjoying the challenge of being tough out there.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I just hope that I'm healthy enough to play that long. See what happens.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: It's fine. It's getting along.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Definitely. Obviously it doesn't feel like Melbourne because the Australian Open, where I'm from, family and friends. But I live here, it's my second home, pretty much my home. I have a lot of friends here. You know, sleep at home, drive up here, 15-minute drive. Just exactly the same back in Melbourne from Williamstown to the city. Feels very much like a home. It's very comfortable.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Wimbledon. Actually, I was living in Sarasota in Long Boat Key for over a year and a half, then I moved here since Wimbledon, August - July.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Because of South Beach (laughter).

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: The young people, young crowd. If you want to go out, you know, I can go out and it's there. At the same time, it's very relaxing. The weather is always great.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, you go out, you meet some people. But it's really cool, very casual.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: To be honest, I couldn't think of a better place to live at the moment than Miami.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I'm not worried about that. I'm just here at the Ericsson Cup at the moment. That's all I'm worried about.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Obviously it's the same as any athlete. Representing your country's a big honor.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I just need to stay healthy, that's it.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: If I stay healthy, I work on all parts of my game. I just want to stay healthy, get a chance to get up there.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Staying healthy.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: It would be in Queen's, my last match when I played Lleyton Hewitt.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I just think that the sport's fine, the game's great, not to change it. The rule about the first game, it's a good idea. I think it's a great idea, keep it going for the television. It's one game, the players are fresh, no problem, they're fit enough. As long as they don't make the balls bigger. Why I'm saying this is because players' arms are going to fall apart, elbow is going to start hurting, shoulder is going to start hurting. The ball is going to get heavier. How are you going to play a five-setter with a bigger ball? There's going to be so many injuries.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: You know, I think Davis Cup, the team events we have coaching, it's fine. The thing about tennis, it's an individual sport. You're out there. If something's wrong, you've got to be out there to change the game for yourself. You can't get help. It's just you and the other guy. That's why it's great.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Probably when I was first on the tour, when I was 17, 18. Everything was great. The traveling was great. Obviously, the traveling is frustrating. But just being on court, I'm just enjoying myself.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I don't know how much money they spent on that facility, but it's an incredible facility. That took a lot of time to do it. Actually, they did it pretty quick, since last year, it was all ready. Incredible how fast they did it. It was a great atmosphere playing there, the court was great. It was good. But, I mean, everything here is great, too. I don't feel like they need to change anything. There's a lot of room, a lot of room for the spectators, a lot of room in the stands for the crowd, even on the outside matches. So it's great.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I like both for their own reasons. You know, this is just as good as the one in Indian Wells. I mean, Indian Wells is incredible, but this is up there, too.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Here. Before the tournament, I was practicing on the island.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I always practice on the island.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I have been. I haven't had a choice. TV is in the locker room and is on the NCAA. I love basketball, so I'm becoming more Americanized with the sports living here. It's good.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yeah. Playing some great ball.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: To be quite honest, on Gilbert's part, he took me down on that day. But that was a few years ago. That was just after a training session, so I was tired, had no legs. But know I think I'll take him.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: His biggest weakness, what would that be? I don't know, maybe his age (laughter).