2007 IN REVIEW
The Aussie veteran did not play a match on the ATP circuit after being sidelined with a right knee injury...Underwent right knee surgery on January 4 in Sydney to repair torn lateral meniscus, which he suffered in a Hopman Cup match one week earlier in Perth...
Returned to action at Stanford Championships Oct. 18 in Dallas and played three matches in 30-over tournament...Posted a win over Petr Korda, lost to Wayne Ferreira, defeated Todd Martin and lost to John McEnroe for third place in the eight-man event...
In 2008, will have a protected ATP Ranking of No. 112 and could use that for eight tournaments or nine months.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1994 – In doubles, won in Perth (w/Ellwood)… 1995 – Jumped from 307 to No. 32 and was youngest player (19) in year-end Top 50… 1996 – Reached 4th RD at Australian Open where he upset No. 1 Sampras in 3rd RD… Won his first ATP title in Toulouse (d. Larsson)… In doubles, advanced to SF at Wimbledon and U.S. Open (w/Rafter)… 1997 – Won a career-high three titles in five finals… On May 25, recorded a personal-best 142.3 mph (229 KmH) serve in three-set loss to A. Costa in final of Peugeot ATP Tour World Team Championship in Dusseldorf… 1998 – Won title in Memphis (d. Chang) and reached first Grand Slam final at U.S. Open (l. to Rafter)… Earned a career-high $1,272,620… 1999 – Won titles in San Jose (d. Mamiit) and AMS Indian Wells (d. Moya)… Broke into Top 10 for first time on Mar. 29 and stayed there for 11 weeks…Advanced to QF at Wimbledon for second straight year and retired in 2nd set against No. 1 Sampras after winning first set… Suffered a moderate cartilage tear in his left knee and underwent arthroscopic surgery on July 6… Returned seven weeks later in Indianapolis and lost in opening match… Did not play again until Oct. 12 in Singapore where he lost in 2nd RD…Reached at AMS Paris (d. Krajicek, Henman, l. to Agassi) and Stockholm…2000 – Successfully defended his title in San Jose (d. Tillstrom)… Advanced to SF at AMS Indian Wells… Defeated Sampras 8-6 in fifth set at Roland Garros en route to 4th RD (l. to Ferrero)… Made a third straight trip to QF at Wimbledon (l. to Agassi)… Appeared in second Olympics, losing in 3rd RD to eventual gold medalist Kafelnikov… Closed season with a runner-up effort at AMS Paris (d. Kafelnikov, Kuerten, l. to Safin)…Underwent left knee surgery on Dec. 20, 2000…2001 – In first tournament of the year, defeated Sanguinetti for Memphis title… Underwent left knee surgery again on Mar. 29 to repair torn ligaments… Missed next six months of season and returned on Sept. 26 in Hong Kong (l. to Schuettler in 2nd RD)… 2002 – Played only 14 tournaments during season after aggravating left knee injury at US Open on Aug. 27 (vs. Schalken)… Reached Adelaide final (l. to Henman)… Also reached doubles final (w/Henman)… At Roland Garros, came back from two sets down for first time in his career to defeat Varlet in 1st RD (l. to Moya in 2nd RD)… Reached 4th RD at Wimbledon (lost 4:11 five-set match vs. Krajicek)…Did not play after US Open… 2003 – Finished in Top 10 for first time in his career and as No. 1 Aussie for first time since 1995… Made fourth-biggest improvement (74 positions) from outside Top 50 previous year to Top 10 (since 1973) and won 24 more matches… Helped his country to Davis Cup title (vs. Spain) by clinching 3-1 victory with five-set verdict over Ferrero… Went 4-2 in Davis Cup singles during year and was undefeated in five-set matches (5-0)… Scottsdale finalist (l. to Hewitt)…Was unseeded at Wimbledon, but reached final by firing 178 aces during fortnight, including a career-high 46 in his five-set victory over Agassi in 4th RD… Rallied from two-set deficit in QF against Popp to win 8-6 in fifth set and beat Grosjean in SF in straight sets before losing to Federer 76 62 76… Reached Los Angeles SF (d. Kuerten, l. to Ferreira)…Did not lose a set en route to title in Shanghai (d. Novak)…Finished No. 2 in aces (behind Roddick) with 762 and No. 3 in 1st serve points won at 81 percent… Served as alternate for Tennis Masters Cup in Houston…2004 – Reached lone QF of year in Sydney (l. to Verkerk) in January… Followed with run to 4th RD at Australian Open (l. to Arazi)… Played in Davis Cup World Group 1st RD tie against Sweden in Adelaide but lost both singles rubbers against Enqvist and Bjorkman as defending champions lost 4-1… Ended eight-match losing streak at ATP World Team Championships in Dusseldorf on clay, as Australians reached final… Reached 4th RD (or better) at Wimbledon for sixth consecutive year (l. to Henman in four sets)…2005 – Won fewest matches (9) since 1994...Played first tournament since Oct. 4 in Scottsdale on Feb. 21, reaching 2nd RD (l. to Ancic)... Withdrew from 2nd RD match at ATP Masters Series tournament in Miami against Gonzalez with left ankle injury on Mar. 26... Did not play again until Jun. 7 at Queen’s Club, defeating Sluiter before losing to eventual champion Roddick... Following week, advanced to first SF since Shanghai in 2003 in s’-Hertogenbosch, losing to Llodra... Reached QF in Metz (l. to Hrbaty)...2006 --
Finished outside Top 100 for third season in a row despite winning his first ATP title in three years...Suffered first 1st RD loss at Australian Open since 1995 (l. to Grosjean)...Was 3-6 before hitting grass courts in June...Reached 3rd RD at Queen’s (l. to Gonzalez) and 2nd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Mirnyi)... Claimed first title since Shanghai 2003 at Newport (d. Gimelstob)...Reached SF at Binghampton Challenger... Lost to Nadal in US Open 1st RD, his third straight 1st RD exit in N.Y...In October, claimed title at Calabasas Challenger (d. Delic)...Reached doubles SF in Adelaide (w/Malisse).
PERSONAL
Full name is Mark Anthony Philippoussis...Began playing tennis at age six with his father, Nick, a former soccer goalkeeper...Mother, Rossana, lives in Melbourne...In doubles, he and Ben Ellwood finished as No. 1 junior team in world in 1994, winning Australian, Wimbledon and Italian juniors...Played in Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and reached 3rd RD in singles...Earned ATP Newcomer of Year award in 1995...Named in People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 1998 issue as one of the sexiest imports...Sports an Alexander the Great tattoo on his right arm...In People Magazine’s “The Sexiest Man Alive 2000” issue, 80 men from around the world were listed in annual issue and among 15 Aussies in the “Awesome Aussies” section, Philippoussis, Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter were featured...Voted ATP Comeback Player of Year in 2003...Has a 13-10 career Davis Cup singles record in 13 ties and member of winning team in 1999 and 2003...In July 2007, starred in NBC reality dating show “Age of Love” where he would date and chose between “Cougars” - or women in their 40s - and “Kittens” - or women in their 20s...
Coached by his father, Nick (since April 2003).
