THE SCUD WHO SHOULD BE CALLED STUD

Hard server Philippoussis is just as deadly in the looks department.

He was voted People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 1998. But Australian hunk Mark Philippoussis is not just a pretty face. The 22-year-old aims to wow Singapore tennis fans with his inimitable style of play. Nicknamed the "Scud" for his booming serves, which have reached 229kmh, the 1.94 cm Philippoussis also sends female pulses racing with his brooding good looks and charming demeanour.

During a videoconference yesterday morning from Miami, he was asked what he would be doing if he were not a tennis player.

"I think I would be an actor," he said.

And what kind of roles would he like?

"I think I will have a big machine gun and I’ll save the world with a beautiful woman by my side," he replied with a big grin.

The Heineken Open will be Philippoussis’ first tournament after coming back from a knee injury, which saw him miss the US Open.

He is seeded second after Marcelos Rios but the Australian is not taking nothing for granted. He said: "I haven’t competed for a few months. I think I will be very nervous during the first match.

"My knee took quite a while to heal properly. But now it is 100 per cent and I am training hard every day."

Unlike world No. 1 Andrea Agassi, who is romantically involved with German superstar Steffi Graf, Philippoussis says he is still available.

He said: "It is amazing how things have turned out for Andre, but goodness knows what will happen to me.

"I am 22 and trying to live life for the moment so, you know, there is no one really special. I am seeing someone, but I am not married.

"I sorta have a girlfriend but I will just be waiting to go to Singapore to meet all the beautiful women," he added to laughter.

It appears his nickname could just as well be Stud.

Before the injury, he had been going great guns earlier this year, climbing to as high as No.8 on the ATP tour world rankings.

He started the season by winning his sixth career title in San Jose and added a Mercedes Super 9 Series tournament by beating the likes of Todd Martin, Alex Corretja and Carlos Moya to win at Indian Wells.

He has also scalped the likes of Rios, Pete Sampras, Yvegeny Kafelnikov and Tim Henman already.

But the scary part is, the Australian says he has only just begun.

"you know, I am not even close to playing my best tennis yet," he said. "I feel like I'm 3 or 4 years away from that."

Thomas Koh, The Straits Times