By ROBERT GRANT
MELBOURNE

Sportstoday

December 29^th, 2000

Tennis star Mark Philippoussis feels the knee surgery he underwent yesterday will legitimise his complaints about injuries this year. Philippoussis, who has been criticised for making himself unavailable for Davis Cup ties, said the operation to repair damaged cartilage showed the injury was genuine. The Victorian was on crutches today and will be sidelined for the next eight weeks, missing the Australian Open next month. He said the operation was a success and, while he made a plea for understanding, he also guaranteed he would play more Davis Cup ties in the future.

New Cup captain John Fitzgerald was ``very open-minded and understanding'' during a recent hour-and-a-half meeting about Philippoussis' future with the team, he said. He would not commit to every tie but hinted he would now be available for all the important Cup matches. ``He (Fitzgerald) is still young and remembers when he was on the tour, how the tour is tough and how everyone needs some time off,'' Philippoussis said. ``He's still going to have to go and talk with the other players because I was the first player he spoke with. ``The good thing about John Fitzgerald is that we will keep in contact during the year ... seeing how things are, seeing how I'm feeling and depending on who we play, who's available and how everyone's feeling - that's what he's going to go on. ``That's the kind of positive thing I'm looking forward to - a bit of communication.'' Philippoussis' relationship with the Australian public has been strained at times - especially concerning his on-again, off-again Davis Cup career - but he has now declared a ``fresh start.'' He said he did not think he had to win back public support, claiming some of his decisions had been blown out of proportion. ``I hope I don't feel like I've lost them,'' Philippoussis said.

He said his knee injury was one which had been ongoing since he was first hurt during Wimbledon last year and had had to pull out of two tournaments after steeling himself for a Davis Cup appointment earlier this year. ``I hope people realise that whenever I am capable of doing what I can, I'm there and I'm giving it my all. ``I've shown that by pulling out of two tournaments which were obviously important at the time. ``That just shows that I am dedicated to this country and to Davis Cup.''

The 1998 US Open finalist said he had considered battling through the Australian Open on painkillers but felt there was no point delaying the inevitable surgery. While the injury has been recurring for the past 18 months, Philippoussis has been told it is not likely to continue to bother him. ``I still have 65 to 70 per cent of my cartilage which is fine - I've got plenty of cartilage to go,'' he said. Philippoussis said he would be off crutches in about two days and would be able to begin his rehabilitation program. But he said he would return to his Florida home before the Australian Open begins to avoid the frustration of watching from the sidelines. AAP rg/djw