Stockholm showing, Agassi angst, could work for Scud

STOCKHOLM, Nov 20 DPA - With a possible long-shot spot in next week's Masters Cup event lodged in the back of his mind, wild card Mark Philippoussis will compete at the $US800,000 ($A1.55 million) Stockholm Open, starting today, with an eye on taking the top prize.
The Australian, who lost a thrilling five-set final at the Paris Masters Series tournament yesterday to Marat Safin, was travelling north today to the Swedish capital.
At what is programmed as his last event of the season, the 24-year-old from Melbourne wants to continue the competent showing he began last week at the Bercy Omnisport.
``I'm going there to think of winning the tournament,'' said the big-serving `Scud'.
``Otherwise, I wouldn't be accepting the wildcard.''
Philippoussis will be seeded fifth at the Kungliga tennis hall and will begin with a match against former Swedish winner Jonas Bjorkman.
There remains an outside chance that Philippoussis could be making an unexpected trip to the eight-man Masters Cup in Lisbon next week if he does well in Stockholm - and if ailing Andre Agassi withdraws.
Though there has been no word from Las Vegas on how treatment to the 30-year-old's hip injury is progressing, Agassi has to remain a question mark.
The five-time Grand Slam champion could be passed by Swede Thomas Enqvist this week in the points race standings.
Though he has an automatic entry into the field as this year's Australian Open winner, Agassi said this month that if he didn't earn his place on points value alone, he didn't deserve to play.
Philippoussis is not trying to predict the tennis future, but said he'll be ready to play in Portugal if he gets the chance. And he likes his current form.
Under the guidance of new coach Peter McNamara, who began working with him a month ago, the Philippoussis game has matured.
Team Philippoussis wants to keep it that way.
``When I go out on the court, I don't care who I play against, I feel I can match with anyone. Things are getting better. I'm working off the court, on the court.
``And it's starting to pay off,'' said the 1998 US Open finalist.
``Last week was a good one for me. I came away feeling positive about it.
``Now, I just want to get ready for Stockholm.''
Swede Magnus Norman, another Lisbon participant, is top seed ahead of Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov and holder Thomas Enqvist, looking for a fourth title at his hometown event.
Kafelnikov, also on the way to Lisbon, was scheduled for Day one action, taking on Swiss George Bastl.


Scud could still be on a winner
PARIS
Tuesday 21 November 2000
Mark Philippoussis is set to profit from Lleyton Hewitt's patriotic sacrifice if the young Australian is forced to miss next week's Masters Cup in Lisbon.
Despite losing the final of the Masters Series here in five thrilling sets to Russian world No.1 Marat Safin 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8), Philippoussis is back on the brink of a place in the world top 10.
And, after his run to the final here, he could squeeze into the Masters Cup as a second reserve if Hewitt, who has been battling a mystery illness, pulls out.
Hewitt pulled out of the Paris event to save himself for Australia's Davis Cup final against Spain next month, an event for which Philippoussis is unavailable.
Hewitt is still planning to play in Lisbon, but even if he does, Philippoussis could still get a run, with Andre Agassi thinking about withdrawing after missing the Paris event with a hip injury.
Philippoussis could boost his chances of a spot in Lisbon even further if he wins in Stockholm this week.
Philippoussis said he could not really fault his showing against Safin - save for a brief loss of concentration in the third set after the Russian whacked himself in the face with his racquet and required treatment.
"It was very frustrating because I played just two loose points," he said.
On losing the second-set tiebreak, Philippoussis said: "I had three break points at five-all, 0-40, but I did nothing wrong. He hit two unbelievable volleys, then hit a lob. I did nothing wrong on those points. I've just got to come away positive and learn from that match."
MARTINA HINGIS and Monica Seles, in a fitting farewell to Madison Square Garden, fought tooth and nail before Hingis hoisted the year's final trophy at the Chase Championship.
Top seed Hingis fought a fiercely determined third seed for two hours and 21 minutes before taking the thriller 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 for her second title in the season finale.
Hingis collected $966,700 for her ninth title of the year in the last championship at the Garden before the event moves to Munich next year.
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Hewitt set to hand Scud Masters spot
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Paris: After turning his back on his country, Mark Philippoussis is set to profit from Lleyton Hewitt's patriotic sacrifice and take his place in next week's Masters Cup in Lisbon.
Despite losing Sunday's final of the Masters Series here in five thrilling sets to Russian Marat Safin 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-8), Philippoussis is back on the brink of a place in the world top 10.
And, after his run to the final here, he could squeeze into the season-ending Masters Cup as a second reserve, with Hewitt an uncertain starter while he battles a virus.

Hewitt pulled out of the Paris event to save himself for Australia's Davis Cup final against Spain next month, an event for which Philippoussis declared himself unavailable.

To ensure he is as fit as possible, Hewitt may yet pull out of the eight-man Lisbon tournament.

American Andre Agassi may also withdraw because of the hip injury which forced him out of Paris.

Agassi, although automatically qualified by winning the Australian Open, said he might give Lisbon a miss if he dropped below eighth in the Champions Race.

Philippoussis could boost his chances for Lisbon if he wins in Stockholm this week, having taken a wildcard for that event.

"I'm going there to win the tournament or else I wouldn't be accepting the wildcard," said the Miami-based Melburnian.

He said his form in Paris had given him a lift despite Sunday's gut-wrenching defeat.

"I've got to come away feeling positive about it. [I'll] just relax the next couple of days and get ready.

"It's been a long, tough week for me. To come all that way and get to 6-6 in the fifth ... but that's tennis. That's how things go."

Philippoussis, who credits new coach Peter McNamara with bringing him back to the boil, said he couldn't really fault his showing against Safin - save for a brief loss of concentration in the third set after the Russian whacked himself in the face with his racquet and required treatment.

"It was very frustrating because I played just two loose points," he said.

On losing the second-set tie-breaker, Philippoussis said: "I had three break points at 5-5, 0-40, but I did nothing wrong.

"He hit two unbelievable volleys, then hit a lob. I did nothing wrong on those points.

"I've just got to come away positive with this week and learn from that match."

The 20-year-old Safin overcame a gashed right eyebrow and some fierce resistance from Philippoussis to win his second title in eight days.

Safin cut himself above the right eye when he hit himself with his racquet attempting a diving volley midway through the third set.

He resumed after being treated by a doctor at courtside - and promptly broke the 13th seed's serve to take the set.

He needed ice on the injury during changes of end to keep down the swelling but finally won in 3hr 28min on his sixth match point.

The Russian edged ahead 6-3 in the decisive tie-breaker but wasted five match points before a Philippoussis forehand error finally gave him the win.

"I was very lucky in the tie-breaker," Safin said.

"Maybe one or two points made the difference."

The victory boosted Safin's ambitions of finishing the year as the world's top-ranked player, increasing his lead over Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten in the Champions Race to 73 points.

Safin, the US Open champion, won his seventh title of the year and became the only man this year to win two Masters Series events.

Safin earned $US434,000 ($839,130) for his triumph, while Philippoussis collected $US228,000.

"Marat's played well all year and this is why he is No1 in the world at the moment," Philippoussis said.