Scud lauds McNamara
sports.news.com
From our wire services
18nov00
PARIS: Mark Philippoussis thanked new coach Peter McNamara after reaching the Paris Masters Series semi-finals for the first time today.
The big-hitting Australian defeated German qualifier David Prinosil 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in one hour 48 minutes to set up a mouthwatering semi-final against Brazilian top seed Gustavo Kuerten.
Philippoussis has been steadily on the rise since coming under the wing of fellow Australian McNamara in October.
Philippoussis said he was becoming a more complete player under McNamara. "He's known me since I was 12 years old," Philippoussis said.
"We're concentrating on going back to the roots, doing what I did when I was younger, enjoying my tennis, just playing my game.
"It's very relaxing.
"You know we have a good chemistry. I'm just trying to use my power to become more of a complete player and learn how to use it."
In-form Scud says thanks to McNamara
sportstoday
CHRIS WRIGHT
PARIS
Sunday 19 November 2000
Australian Mark Philippoussis has paid tribute to his new coach, Peter McNamara, after reaching the semi-finals of the Paris Masters Series tournament for the first time.
The big-hitting Australian defeated German qualifier David Prinosil 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in one hour 48 minutes to set up a mouth-watering match against Brazilian top seed Gustavo Kuerten.
Philippoussis has been steadily on the rise since coming under the wing of fellow Australian McNamara in October. McNamara, he says, is turning him into a more complete player.
"He's known me since I was 12yearsold. We're concentrating on going back to the roots, doing what I did when I was younger, enjoying my tennis, just playing my game.
"It's very relaxing. You know we have a good chemistry. I'm just trying to use my power to become more of a complete player and learn how to use it."
In the few weeks since joining up with McNamara, Philippoussis has reached the final in Hong Kong, losing to Germany's Nicolas Kiefer.
In Paris, despite playing with a strapped knee "as a precaution", he has looked in good shape and saw off former world No.1 and fourth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the third round.
The 24-year-old Melburnian has not let the fallout from his disagreement with the Davis Cup team distract him from the big picture, which involves breaking into the top10 in the world as well as homing in on a ninth career title.
If he can catch Kuerten on an off day, a second Masters Series title after Indian Wells last year beckons.
That would propel him into the top10 and put him in line as an alternate for the season-ending Masters Cup in Lisbon from November28 should either compatriot Lleyton Hewitt or Andre Agassi pull out with fitness doubts.
TWO Chase Championships debutantes took centre stage at Madison Square Garden, New York, yesterday, with 19-year-old Russian Elena Dementieva outlasting 17-year-old Belgian Kim Clijsters to earn a semi-final clash with third seed Monica Seles.
"It was my dream to play against Monica and it is just a great experience for me," said Dementieva, the Olympic silver medallist, after taking the error-filled contest 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in one hour 43minutes.
"I learned how to play tennis watching her matches against Steffi Graf."
Seles needed just 65minutes to turn back South African Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-4.
The victory put Seles into the final four of the season finale for the first time since 1992, the year she won the last of her three consecutive titles here.
The other semi-final pits top-seeded Martina Hingis against seventh-seeded Russian Anna Kournikova.
Seles has played neither Clijsters or Dementieva, so she did a little courtside scouting after her match.
"I remember when I came in, Martina Navratilova said, `Wait 'til you get a little bit older and play the younger kids coming up', and it's happening to me now," laughed Seles, a veteran at 26.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI has been named to replace the injured Chanda Rubin in the United States team to play in the Fed Cup finals in Las Vegas next week.
Rubin is bothered by tendinitis in her left knee.