MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS yesterday ushered in the new year with a smiling resolution to be a ``good boy'', having farewelled a controversial 1998 without regret for his past words and actions.

Philippoussis refused to play Davis Cup and then arrived illadvisedly in Mildura to watch his countrymen eliminated by Zimbabwe. He publicly criticised Australian icons John Newcombe and Tony Roche before returning to the fold in October. But he insists he stands by his behavior, for better or worse.

``I make decisions, right or wrong, that's part of learning, that's part of growing up,'' Philippoussis said at a news conference before the Hopman Cup, which starts with today's AustraliaSouth Africa tie at the Burswood Dome here.

``If I make some wrong decisions again this year ... they might be wrong, but they're decisions and that's how I'm going to go about it. I can't do anything about that.''

The world No.15 said he did not expect any problems when he rejoined the Davis Cup squad, despite having declared his unavailability until he received an apology from Newcombe, the captain, and then expressing his disappointment at coach Roche's decision to sit in Pat Rafter's box during the United States Open final.

``You have to understand that I love playing for my country,'' Philippoussis said. ``I love playing Davis Cup, that's a great feeling. So I just want to put all my problems aside and not make them stop me doing something that I love, and that is playing for my country.

``I think they're taking it positive(ly). It's going to be a positive thing. Just go out there. And I think we can win it. But not looking too far ahead, and just taking it one match at a time this time.''

Philippoussis said he had not considered it ``important'' to speak to Newcombe and Roche since returning to Melbourne for his endofyear break, but would do so if the opportunity arose at the Australian Open.

``At the moment, I just have to concentrate on the summer and what I have to do,'' he said.

Having reached his first grand slam final, the last eight at Wimbledon, the semifinals of the rich Grand Slam Cup and winning the Memphis title, the Australian No.2 described 1998 as ``definitely a rollercoaster ride''. ``There were some good moments and I finished off OK. I think I matured a little bit more and it's great that Cashie has come on the team.''

Indeed, there was high praise for Pat Cash, the most recent addition to Team Philippoussis. The pair have worked together regularly since the 22yearold left Queen's Club in crisis, struggling to motivate himself and threatening to withdraw from Wimbledon.

Philippoussis credits Cash with making him think more positively and enjoy his time on court, and also with bringing valuable empathy to his sometimes troubled life. He said it was only this year that he began to appreciate the vast difference between grand slam tennis and regular tournaments. The US Open loss to Rafter, he said, had also made him stronger.

``I work extremely hard, I feel like I am hitting the ball great at the moment,'' he said. ``My fitness level is probably the best it's been. I am mentally getting stronger, but the most important thing is that I am loving the challenge a lot more, I am loving playing out there.''

After his 15yearold cup partner Jelena Dokic opens against Amanda Coetzer today, Philippoussis will play South African Wayne Ferreira, with the mixed doubles to follow.

What tournament director Paul McNamee regards as probably the best Hopman Cup field he has assembled in 11years also included women's top two Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis, Spain's French Open champions Carlos Moya and Arantxa SanchezVicario and men's big improver Karol Kucera.

The final place in the eightteam field was claimed by France with its 21 qualifyinground defeat of Zimbabwe yesterday. Sandrine Testud defeated Cara Black 46, 61, 62 and Guillaume Raoux trounced Wayne Black 61, 63. The Black siblings won the doubles in straight sets.

FROM the network that brought us the nonstop visual spectacular that is the AFL draft comes the latest in actionpacked sports television: the Australian Open tennis draw. Live.

Seven will delay its coverage of Kooyong's Colonial Classic on Friday week for the 20minute computerised draw from Melbourne Park at 11am rather than replay it in the afternoon, as in the past.

The network's Melbourne head of sport, Gordon Bennett, said the change was not directly due to the success of Australia's United States Open finalists Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis, but was designed to complement existing programming.