SCUD BLOWS UP ARAZI
Matthew Cronin (www.rolandgarros.org/en/)
Friday, June 2, 2000
In another attempt to show the world that he is a truly elite player, Aussie Mark Philippoussis overwhelmed Moroccan Hicham Arazi 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3 on Friday to launch himself into a highly anticipated fourth round match-up against 20-year-old Spaniard Juan-Carlos Ferrero.
For his part, the lightening quick Ferrero jumped all over Argentine Mariano Puerto before his opponent retired with a groin injury down 6-2 3-2.
In stuffing the Moroccan's magic back in his bag, the 6-foot-4 Philippoussis put on an incredible serving display on a hot, humid day on Suzanne Lenglen stadium, cracking 13 aces and 13 service winners and winning 69 percent of his service points. Moreover, the ultimate power player was lethal form the back court, knocking off 17 forehand winners and 12 backhands winners with his classic flat strokes.
"I played solid," said Philippoussis, who has been hampered by a knee injury since February. "I was making him move. If I had the chance to come in, I did. He started making a few unforced errors at the start. It's not that I played incredible. I mean, I did play well, but not unbelievable."
Arazi, who let his legendary temper show a few times during the match when he failed to convert on a key opportunity or disputed a call, was impressed with his opponent, whom he had beaten in a dramatic five-set match at the 1998 Australian and barely lost to in Toulouse in 1996.
"I thought he had problems in the previous rounds," said Arazi. "When I played him on hard before I fought him a lot. Maybe I was overconfident and expected an easier match. I gave everything I had to get back into the match but unfortunately in the fourth set I was nearly there but then wasn't."
Philippoussis pointed out that he has received a bad rap as a fast court specialist.
"I feel comfortable on every surface," he said. "When I was a kid I learned to be comfortable serve and volleying and hitting the ball from the back. I've become really fit. I feel like if I need to stay out there four hours, I can do that. It's got a lot to do with my mental approach as well. I've come in thinking, 'If he's going to win, he's going to have to stay out there for four hours and play great.'"
Philippoussis has been tagged as a potential Slam winner in nearly every major he has entered since he upset Pete Sampras at the 1996 Australian Open and reached the fourth round. But since then, the 'Scud' has only battled beyond the round of 16 at a Slam once, reaching the final of the 1998 U.S. Open where he was soundly defeated by countryman Patrick Rafter. This fortnight, he said he's ready to bear down.
"It's a Grand Slam," he said. "If you're not going to concentrate and work hard at this tournament, then you shouldn't be playing."
Ferrero, the youngest player in the draw behind 19-year-old Swiss Roger Federer, is a sandy blonde with tremendous confidence and terrific power off both wings. Playing in only his third Slam, Ferrero made this biggest jump of any player in last year's rankings, rocketing from No345 to No43. This year, he's reached two finals.
"It's a dream for me to come up this fast, but I deserve it," Ferrero said. "This is the first time I've been this far in a Grand Slam so I'm very happy. Against Mark, I'll have to really concentrate to get his serve back. I'm looking forward to playing someone who hits that hard."
Scud oozes a cool confidence
By Kim Trengove Paris 06/03/00
Can Scud win?
Mark Philipppoussis is working his way into a state essential to all Grand Slam champions. He is assured, fit, fully focused and oozing with self-belief. "What has changed is my level of concentration," Scud said after advancing to the fourth round with a four-set win over clay court specialist Hicham Arazi. "I wanted to come here and concentrate and not get upset on court," he said.
While the 6 foot 4 inch Australian clocked 13 aces, he played a smart game against the Moroccan and showed remarkable patience. "It's not like I was out there slapping winners everywhere. You know, I played solid tennis. I was making him move. If I had the chance to come in, I was coming in. He was just making a bit of unforced errors at the start. It's not that I played incredible."
Philippoussis came of age on clay at the Davis Cup final last year where he defeated Sebastien Grosjean and Cedric Pioline. While he entered the French Open championships with a 1-4 tally on clay this season, Scud's first round upset over No.2 Pete Sampras strengthened the Australian's reputation as a big-occasion performer. In the second round he disposed of another American, Paul Goldstein.
"You know, it doesn't really matter what surface I play on. I feel pretty comfortable on every surface. Obviously when I was a kid, I was with my father, learned to be comfortable serve-and-volleying, hitting the ball hard from the back," he said. "I've become really fit. I feel like if I need to stay out there for three hours and a half, you know, four hours, I'm willing to do that. Also it's got to do a lot mentally, as well. That's the difference, in this tournament, I've come in thinking that, you know, 'If he's going to win, he's going to have to stay out there for four hours and play a great match to win._"
Philippoussis' next opponent is Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, who had an easy ride to the fourth round when Mariano Puerta retired hurt in the second set. "Just another player; nothing different," was all Philippoussis said of Ferrero.
Philippoussis not stuck in mud on clay
SportsLine.com wire reports
PARIS -- There is more to Mark Philippoussis than laser serves. He can slug with the best of them on the clay courts of the French Open.
And he did just that on Friday, beating Hicham Arazi 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 of Morocco in the third round.
"What has changed is my level of concentration," he said. "I wanted to come here and concentrate and not get upset on court," he said.
Philippoussis still slammed plenty of big serves, finishing with 13 aces. But the 6-foot-4 Aussie showed surprising patience.
The key came at the start of the second set when Philippoussis broke Arazi without leaving the baseline.
Philippoussis surged through the set in 25 minutes. Arazi made a brief comeback but Philippoussis broke in the sixth game of the fourth set. He then held serve and will next play Spanish prodigy Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Many expected Philippoussis to struggle against Arazi, who is ranked 22nd and loves clay. The Moroccan twice reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
But Philippoussis, superb on clay in last year's Davis Cup final against France, said he has no problems with the Roland Garros surface.
Mark Philippoussis' game has become less one-dimensional.(AP)
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"I was not out there slapping winners everywhere," he said. "I was very happy with the way I played."
Philippoussis eliminated Pete Sampras in the first round and another American, Paul Goldstein, in the second. He thinks his mental approach is contributing to success on clay.
Philippoussis, the 1998 U.S. Open runner-up, is trying to become the first Australian winner at Roland Garros since Rod Laver in 1969.
"I have become really fit," he said. "If I need to stay out there for four hours I am willing to do that."
Key for Philippoussis: 'I'm concentrating'
(sportserver)
By WINSOR DOBBIN
PARIS (June 2, 2000 12:02 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - Mark Philippoussis got his brain into shape - and his tennis game followed.
The powerful Australian, who had a disastrous clay court build-up to the French Open, cruised into the fourth round on Friday with a 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 shellacking of experienced Moroccan campaigner Hicham Arazi.
Philippoussis, the cornerstone of the Australian team that won the Davis Cup last year, earned a meeting with 16th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero on Sunday.
A winner over second-seeded Pete Sampras in the first-round, Philippoussis said triumphing in a battle with his own instincts has helped him become a better player.
"I'm concentrating," was Philippoussis' succinct answer to why he has emerged from a 1-4 record on clay this year to being a serious title contender here.
"I wasn't there mentally for my matches, and now I am. That's the difference.
"I've come in thinking: 'if he's going to win, he's going to have to stay out there for four hours and to play a great match'."
Philippoussis, a former U.S. Open finalist whose game appears best suited to grass and other fast surfaces, and who has twice reached the last eight at Wimbledon, says he now has no problems playing on the slower red clay.
"It doesn't really matter what I play on," he said. "I feel pretty comfortable on every surface.
"I'm out there. I've become really fit. I feel like if I need to stay out there for three-and-a-half, four hours, then I'm willing to do that.
"It's a Grand Slam. There is no other way you can think about it. If you are not going to be concentrating, you don't want to work hard at this tournament, then you shouldn't be playing tennis.
"It's a Grand Slam and you have to give it your all. That's what I'm prepared to do.
"I came into this tournament to concentrate - and not get upset on court. I'm thinking to just go out there, play hard, enjoy myself but not get upset."
Philippoussis, 23, left Arazi thrashing around in the dirt with his power and precision but warned he still believes he has plenty of improvement in him.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing - but there is nothing to be excited about," he said. "I played well today, but it certainly wasn't unbelievable."
He knows, also, that fast-rising Ferrero looms as a major obstacle to his ambitions of becoming the first Australian to win the men's singles here since Rod Laver in 1969.
"Obviously, he's playing some great tennis," he said. "He's a good player who's had some good results."
Two other Australians play their third-round matches on Saturday.
Ninth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt faces Hungarian qualifier Attila Savolt for a place in the last 16, while Jason Stoltenberg meets 15th-seeded Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui.
Big serves, patience carry Philippoussis to another win
(sportserver)
By ANDREAS EVAGORA
PARIS (June 2, 2000 6:47 p.m. EDT http://www.sportserver.com) - There is more to Mark Philippoussis than laser serves. He can slug with the best of them on the clay courts of the French Open.
And he did just that on Friday, beating Hicham Arazi 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 of Morocco in the third round.
"What has changed is my level of concentration," he said. "I wanted to come here and concentrate and not get upset on court," he said.
Philippoussis still slammed plenty of big serves, finishing with 13 aces. But the 6-foot-4 Aussie showed surprising patience.
The key came at the start of the second set when Philippoussis broke Arazi without leaving the baseline.
Philippoussis surged through the set in 25 minutes. Arazi made a brief comeback but Philippoussis broke in the sixth game of the fourth set. He then held serve and will next play Spanish prodigy Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Many expected Philippoussis to struggle against Arazi, who is ranked 22nd and loves clay. The Moroccan twice reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
But Philippoussis, superb on clay in last year's Davis Cup final against France, said he has no problems with the Roland Garros surface.
"I was not out there slapping winners everywhere," he said. "I was very happy with the way I played."
Philippoussis eliminated Pete Sampras in the first round and another American, Paul Goldstein, in the second. He thinks his mental approach is contributing to success on clay.
Philippoussis, the 1998 U.S. Open runner-up, is trying to become the first Australian winner at Roland Garros since Rod Laver in 1969.
"I have become really fit," he said. "If I need to stay out there for four hours I am willing to do that."