Sportstoday

McNamara, who was sacked at the end of 1996 after only five months in his first crack at the seemingly revolving position, has been reinstated four years later, solo and full-time, starting with this week's tournament in Hong Kong.

Hopper, whose association with Team Philippoussis began in January 1997 and thus had almost qualified the fitness trainer for long-service leave, now joins the long list of former employees - again.

Dispensed with for the first time is DePalmer, the former mentor of Boris Becker who joined the entourage amid much fanfare for the London grasscourt season, and was declared by Philippoussis post-Wimbledon as an ongoing member of his staff. Instead, that deal ended after a modest American hardcourt swing.

``Mark's had a long association with Gavin Hopper and I think they both agree that it's become a bit flat in recent times, and although they remain good friends, it was time for both to move on,'' said Philippoussis' manager John McCurdy, of Octagon.

``His arrangement with Mike DePalmer was a trial during the US circuit and Mark decided not to continue.''

Enter McNamara, an unsuccessful candidate for the Davis Cup captaincy awarded to John Fitzgerald in July. The Britain-based McNamara first saw Philippoussis as a chubby but well-schooled 12-year-old at a coaching clinic in Hawthorn, worked closely with the teenager at the Victorian Instititute of Sport for several years, and travelled with him for the second half of 1996.

McNamara was in New York for the US Open, where Philippoussis lost in the second round to Jan-Michael Gambill, and it was at Flushing Meadows that negotiations apparently began.

``Mark's got the opportunity to work with Peter again, he's a former top-10 player, and I think Macca could really help him with his preparation, and how to use his game most efficiently against the different top players in the world,'' McCurdy said.

``There'll be a real emphasis on the tennis side of things, and getting him on court. Mark's got a big game and he can obviously play from the net or from the back of the court, so I think Macca can really help him a lot tactically.''

Despite the controversy that followed his 1996 sacking, with McNamara the sixth coach or assistant to bite the dust in a period of just two years, McNamara refused to speak out publicly against his former charge at the time and has maintained a dignified silence on the subject ever since.

Indeed, McNamara was supported by Philippoussis and his all-powerful father, Nick, in the recent Davis Cup manoeuvring, with candidates such as Fitzgerald and Wally Masur said to be more closely aligned with Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt.

``Macca and Mark have always remained good friends and had a lot of respect for each other and Mark's worked with him a lot in the past as a junior,'' McCurdy said. ``It's very exciting for the future. They have a long history, and they're both very happy to be working with each other again.''

Others involved with Philippoussis at various times and in varying roles over the past six years include Tony Roche, Nick Bollettieri, Pat Cash and former footballer Todd Viney.

And despite the thawing during the Olympics of Philippoussis' relations with his erstwhile Davis Cup teammates Hewitt, Rafter and Mark Woodforde, McCurdy also confirmed there was no chance the Victorian would make himself available for the final against Spain in December.

``They made it clear that they wanted to go with the same team for the final,'' McCurdy said, Philippoussis having missed the past two rounds through injury.