By TREVOR MARSHALLSEA
NEW YORK
Monday 4 September 2000

The Age

His US Open abruptly cut short, Mark Philippoussis confirmed he would be very much a lone wolf in the Australian tennis team at the Olympics.
If team disharmony wasn't enough, Philippoussis will also go into the Games in the midst of a slump.
His 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Jan-Michael Gambill in a second-round match marked the fourth time he has failed to pass the second round in his past five tournaments on the US hardcourt circuit.
His fortunes were in marked contrast to those of Olympic teammate Lleyton Hewitt, who steamed into a fourth-round meeting with Thomas Enqvist by trouncing Jiri Novak 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Philippoussis' poor form and the resulting lack of confidence was evident against Gambill as he dropped serve at 4-4 in each set, with all break points lost with double faults.
He served two in his first broken game, one in the second, and no less than three when serving to stay in the match.
Philippoussis believes his trough stems, in part, from the dramas of his recent falling out with Australian Davis Cup teammates after he withdrew from the semi-final against Brazil citing a knee injury.
His withdrawal sparked critical comments from teammates and many other tennis commentators and officials.
He required treatment on the same knee while playing Gambill, but said it was not a serious concern and wouldn't stop him playing the Olympics.
But Philippoussis does not feel inclined to patch things up with Olympic and Davis Cup teammates Hewitt and Pat Rafter, nor with cup captain John Newcombe, who has no official role at the Olympics.
Asked if he'd had an opportunity for a pre-Games clearing of the air with Rafter, Philippoussis said: "I don't want an opportunity.
"He said what he had to say. That's final. I'm just worried about myself and playing my matches."
Asked where he stood now with Rafter, Philippoussis said: "We wouldn't go out to dinner or anything.
"There were a couple of guys and the captain who said things. I've lost respect for them. I'll say hello and that's it.
"Other guys I have no problems with."
The big Melburnian has also had uneasy relations with Davis Cup coach Tony Roche, who will coach the Australian contingent at the Olympics.
But when quizzed about the need for team harmony, Philippoussis said: "I'm going to go represent my country. It's as simple as that. I'm not going to worry about all the stuff that's been going on or what's been said."
He was worried, he said, by the storm over his cup semi-final unavailability, to the point where it helped spark the form slide that followed his passage into the quarter-finals at this year's Wimbledon.
"It was definitely in the back of my mind, the first couple of tournaments in the (northern) summer," said Philippoussis, adding his early jitters this summer had "just started a whole avalanche".
The avalanche theory helped Philippoussis explain why he was not shattered with his early departure from the US Open, the only grand slam tournament in which he has made a final.
"This result doesn't surprise me. The whole summer has been disappointing," he said.
"It's a grand slam, I was trying to turn it up, but it's just tough all of a sudden to whip it into gear."
Philippoussis gave a good impression of a man who will happily and privately enjoy his Olympic experience, without worrying what his teammates thought about him.
At Atlanta in 1996 he was a popular addition, befriending many Australian athletes from other sports. It will be interesting to see what happens this time after his last Davis Cup withdrawal.
"I'm going to go out there, represent my country like I always have, always loved doing," he said.
"Like the last Olympics, it was a thrill. It was a great atmosphere staying in the Olympic village with all the athletes.
"I think because I've already played the Olympics I know what to expect."