Rising star
Philippoussis must challenge himself to play his best tennis

Feb. 15, 2000 12:01 p.m ET
By Leif Shiras
FOX Sports Net


It was right before the theater went dark that Gavin Hopper asked Mark Philippoussis if he could do him a favor — and it wasn't pass the popcorn please. As they waited for "Galaxy Quest" to start, Coach Hopper said to Flipper, ("Scud" is history), now that we've come all this way to San Jose, can you challenge yourself to give it your best every point?
Hopper's words may not resonate like Knute Rockne's, but they were simple and direct. Let's face it, Flipper has never been known for winning with his head. Giving his best was not always a given. Flipper may be blessed with as much explosive talent as anyone on the planet, but he has struggled to find what his best tennis is — and, more importantly, he has struggled to keep his head together enough to deliver it consistently.

That Philippoussis got through in San Jose, winning five matches in five nights, (immediately on the heels of clinching Australia's Davis Cup win over Switzerland), tells me a couple of things. First, it says that the 23-year-old from Melbourne is willing to listen: And second, it says that he is developing some heart.

Tired and sore from his five-set clincher over George Bastle in Switzerland, the euphoria of Davis Cup still in his head, Flip could easily have bagged it in his first rounder against Guillermo Canas. Canas is one of those annoying Argentine grinders who can dish it out big from the back; He's not bothered by pace, likes to pass and plays well in big moments. That Flipper stayed with it against Canas — he was not all there — is proof that he is determined to give his best.

What Philippoussis did have was good enough to squeeze out a win against Canas, 7-6 in the third set. It was also good enough to get past inspired play from Ronald Agenor, Jim Courier (don't retire just yet Jim, please) and the Swede, Mikael Tillstrom. It was not a pretty run, but it did show that Philippoussis is resourceful and focused.

Hopper's words to Philippoussis need not extend to when he is at his best. The game is easy for Flipper then. Like when he busted out four straight unreturnable bombs serving out the match against Courier. Or when he constructed four perfect points to break Tillstrom in the third set, mixing in power with spin, patiently setting up the attack. The guy has scary talent — the kind of talent that unnerves even the best players, i.e. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.

What takes a player through the tough times though, when your A game is back at the hotel, is heart. Flipper learned about character firsthand in Davis Cup. He has it. Just as American Chris Woodruff showed in Zimbabwe, Philippoussis stepped into the fire a boy and came out a man. His most rewarding decision last year may have been to patch up his relationship with Australian Davis Cup captain John Newcombe and commit to playing.

Admittedly, San Jose was not the last step for Flipper, there is much yet to learn. But with one Grand Slam final under his belt, (1998 US Open) and a growing reputation for winning big matches, Philippoussis looks like the best player to have never won a Slam.

That list includes Tim Henman, Marcelo Rios, Thomas Enqvist, Todd Martin, Nicolas Kiefer and Goran Ivanesevic. No one on that list is superior in any way to what Flipper can produce when he is at his best. The question is, and Hopper may ask it again, can Philippoussis challenge himself to play his best tennis at every opportunity? Turn out the lights, the show is just beginning.