Sportscentral
By Trevor Marshallsea
NEW YORK, Aug 30 AAP - Mark Philippoussis has changed his mind about returning his base to Australia after the storm of negative publicity over his withdrawal from the Davis Cup semi-final.
Two months after announcing a move back to Melbourne for a more settled life and greater focus on training, Philippoussis says he's now staying put in his Miami headquarters.
The access to tournaments in Europe and the US is much easier from there, he points out.
But he agrees the furore over his Davis Cup withdrawal, when he took time to rest his sore knee, left a sour taste which also affected his decision.
"That was a big part too," said Philippoussis today after a first round US Open win over Spain's Albert Portas 6-3 6-2 6-3.
"It's not nice going back home, being with your family and having four channels, the press, being in front of your house from seven in the morning until four in the afternoon, and upsetting your mother and your sister.
"I can take that, but when it's being put on my family, I don't like that.
"So I'm not going to do that to my parents by moving back."
Fifteenth seed Philippoussis, the 1998 US Open runner up, now faces the prospect of not meeting another seed until the quarter finals, following Wayne Arthurs' upset of No.2 Gustavo Kuerten yesterday.
He also does not have to worry about a possible third round meeting with his uneasy "ally" from Australia, Pat Rafter, after the dual champion's shock first round elimination.
But Philippoussis still faces a tricky second rounder against American Jan-Michael Gambill, who upset Australian seventh seed Lleyton Hewitt in the first round of Wimbledon, and who leads Philippoussis 3-1 in career head-to-heads, winning all three of their meetings on hardcourts.
Gambill, ranked 27th, is one of the strongest "dark horses" of the tournament. Since reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, the 23-year-old has played four tournaments, making the final at Los Angeles where he lost to Michael Chang, and a quarter-final at Washington, losing to Nicholas Keifer.
While Philippoussis sent down 14 aces in his three set stroll against Portas, Gambill unleashed 30 in five sets against American wild card Mardy Fish.
"I've always said grand slams are a funny thing. Draws can open up," said Philippoussis, who had his Tour highlight in making the final here in 1998, when he lost to Rafter.
"(But) that doesn't mean it's a breeze for anyone. Obviously they're tough matches.
"He (Gambill) has always been a dangerous player. He comes out and he hits hard."
Gambill said he was looking forward to his big-serving match with Philippoussis.
"I'm excited, man," said the west coaster. "I love playing him. We have great matches.
"He's playing well, serving huge as usual. It's going to be a tough match (but) I think I can go out there and play great."
Fellow Australian Richard Fromberg also advanced to round two, defeating Switzerland's George Bastl 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-2, and will now play Belgian qualifier Xavier Malisse for the right to play one of two Australians, Wayne Arthurs or Jason Stoltenberg.
Fromberg is ranked 84th to 20-year-old Malisse's 159th, but lost their only previous match in straight sets, also on hardcourts, at San Jose this year.