'The Scud' addresses misfires

Oct. 4, Hong Kong -- It's back to the future for Mark Philippoussis as 'The Scud' aims to sort out his mis-firing game by going back to basics and back to his roots.

'I've been side-tracked,' said Philippoussis, who is playing this week's Salem Open on the Hong Kong hardcourts of Victoria Park. 'I've just gotten back to basics in the last few weeks.

Things have been on a downturn since the Aussie faced compatriot Patrick Rafter in the 1998 U.S. Open final, which went to Rafter. But with only one title this year, a string of departed coaches in his past and an attitude problem with his former Davis Cup teammates , it's become clear that the huge-hitter needs to return to the basics of the game.

'I went to the Tennis Centre in Melbourne (site of the Australian Open) where I started training when I was 16 and 17. I'm enjoying myself a lot more. I'm doing what I was doing earlier and trying to forget about some of the disturbing things off court.'

Among the changes are a new coach, Peter McNamara, who was a two-time doubles champ at Wimbledon with Paul McNamee in the 1980s. And while the sportscar-loving Melbourne native has gone through a few coaches in his time -- the recently departed Pat Cash among the more notable -- he's hopeful that McNamara will help restore his game.

'I've known (McNamara) since I was 12,' said Philippoussis, who grew up in a close-knit Greek-Italian family. 'He's known me from a young age -- I felt I needed to get back to my roots and recapture what got me up there in the game.'

'Mark knows what it takes to become a top player. The opportunities are there and he realizes it,' McNamara said. 'He knows there is no shortcut to the top.'

Philippoussis hopes that going with what he knows best, a mentor from his teenaged years, will help him establish some consistency in a game where he has shown plenty of promise, but never quite claimed the big rewards.

Success did come his way in February, when he won the San Jose title and helped Australia beat Switzerland in first-round Davis Cup play. But the star that shined so brightly after last December's Davis Cup title against France has dimmed.

There's a divide between Philippoussis and the Australian Davis Cup camp, which is growing because he won't be available to play in the title match in Barcelona in December. It's a subject Philippoussis refuses to discuss, hinting only that he feels he's been unfairly treated by everyone from Rafter to retiring coach John Newcombe.

This year's record
Philippoussis, whose career best ranking was No. 8 in April 1999, beat Pete Sampras in five sets in the French Open first round, reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals, and was bounced out of the second round of the U.S. Open.

His Sydney Olympics were modest: 'I played two good matches, and you can't feel too bad about losing to the eventual gold medalist (Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov). I had some chances, but the good thing is, I thought from the Olympics, 'I'm playing better.'

'I'm training really hard and just getting back to basics.'

Philippoussis insists that a change back to familiar scenery will be useful. While his move from his Miami Beach base back to Australia seems to be shrouded in mystery -- no one knows if he's actually quit living in the United States or not -- it's clear that the big server is spending as much time as he can with his family in Melbourne.

Conveniently, that's McNamara's base and perfect for working on his game. 'I'm feeling positive and I'm looking forward to it,' Philippoussis said of his hopes. 'I had a good time in Melbourne (before the Olympic Games) seeing my friends and family. I haven't had a lot of chances to go to Melbourne. It feels very good to start again, I'm happy to be here.'

McNamara is positive: 'We haven't seen the best of him. We're returning to Mark's roots, where we hope to harness all of the wonderful talent that he has.

Getting better all the time
With McNamara giving guidance, the Australian is hopeful that he can raise his level. That process began in Hong Kong. 'I'm feeling confident. I can't remember the last time I served this well,' said a man who exceeded his best record off 44 aces in a match at this summer's Wimbledon. 'It obviously makes life easier for me when I'm serving this way. Takes some pressure off my service game.'

Philippoussis knows that he has more potential than he's shown this season. 'I've been side-tracked. I've just gotten back to basics in the last few weeks.

'I went to the Tennis Centre in Melbourne (site of the Australian Open) where I started training when I was 16 and 17. I'm enjoying myself a lot more. I'm doing what I was doing earlier and trying to forget about some of the disturbing things off court.'

But trying getting either man to go deeper into the spat is all but impossible. 'I don't want to talk about the Davis Cup issue. I want to put it behind me and concentrate on my tennis,' is the standard reply. And he's sticking with it as he tries to spend more time on tennis and less on distractions.