TMS - INDIAN WELLS

March 11, 2000

Mark Philippoussis

GRAEME AGARS: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the defending champion of this event, the first Masters Series event for the year 2000, Mark Philippoussis. Open it up for questions.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: It's incredible; seems like a great atmosphere. I can't really wait to get on center court and play a match there. Everything is so well-organized. It's huge. Took me a while to try to find my credentials, players' lounge and everything. I think it was well worthwhile building this facility. It's great.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I hit yesterday for 40 minutes. It's pretty much the same as last year. The ball bounces extremely high. It's very fair, you know, for baseliners or serve-and-volleyers. I think it will suit me. I'm happy.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I think a little faster than medium. The balls are shooting through a little bit, definitely bouncing very high off the serve and off the groundstrokes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, no. I've been playing here for, you know, five years now. Like I say, it's just getting here this week, looking at the facility, looking at the courts, getting used to the atmosphere, getting used to the new surroundings.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Obviously, I think everyone in the first round - I'm a little nervous. That's the toughest match. Once you get past that little hump, I think everyone's game gets better and better match-by-match. You know, I've played some tough players in these first rounds. I don't mind playing another hundred tiebreakers as long as I, you know, win them (laughter).

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Different? You know, obviously I won it last year. It was a great feeling. It's going to be so much harder this year. Obviously, everyone is playing this new Masters Series event, all the top players play. Everyone is excited to get off to a great start. Everyone is looking to play some good tennis straight off. You know, there's so many players who can do well and win this tournament. For myself, I'm just obviously putting last year behind me, and this year is a different year, a fresh year. I'm just looking to play some good tennis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yeah. You know, it was unfortunate what happened. I played a lot of matches. From Switzerland, flew straight to San Jose, played five straight days, some tough matches, just took a toll on my knee. I had to pull out of Memphis after playing a match. I had like a week and a half off, just started working, you know, gradually trying to get my knee a lot stronger, just pretty much getting into it again. The only thing I could do is just rest. That's the only thing I could do for my knee. Seems to be a hundred percent again. Just see how it goes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Actually, to be quite honest, I have exactly the same schedule as I had last year. Round of 16, won in San Jose. Last year I lost in the Round of 16 at Memphis. This year I had to pull out, didn't play any tournament, then came straight here. It's pretty much worked out perfectly again.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: My left knee.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Each match at Wimbledon got better and better. Pete's match, I was playing some great tennis. Every year I mature little by little. My game is coming together a lot more. I'm feeling a lot more mature as a person on the court. My game feels a lot more mature. You know, I'm a lot more patient, I'm working the points better, knowing when to go for a little bit more. Naturally, I do tend to go for shots that aren't there. But it's just the way I am, it's the kind of player I am. You know, every match I'm giving 110 percent. The thing is, if I do lose a match, it's not because I'm losing myself, it's because I'm making the other player beat me. That's the difference between this year and the end of last year.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes, I definitely hope so.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes, I pretty much do. I'm sure he's very pretty eager to start off, like I said, The Masters series, with a good tournament.