Sydney Morning Herald

30 December 2000

Mark Philippoussis feels the knee surgery he had in Melbourne on

Thursday will legitimise his complaints about injuries this year.

Philippoussis, criticised for making himself unavailable for Davis Cup

ties, said yesterday that the operation to repair damaged cartilage

showed the injury was genuine.

The Victorian was on crutches yesterday 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"

at a recent 90-minute meeting regarding Philippoussis's future with the

team, the Scud said.

Although Philippoussis would not commit to every tie, he hinted he would

now be available for all the key 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's relationship with the Australian public has been

strained at times: especially his on-again, off-again Davis Cup career.

Now, though, Philippoussis has declared a "fresh start".

The player said he did not think he had to win back public support,

maintaining some of his decisions had been blown out of proportion. "I

hope I don't feel like I've lost them [the public]," he said.

Philippoussis said his knee injury was one that had continued to trouble

him since he was first hurt during Wimbledon last year and had caused

him to pull out of two tournaments after he had steeled 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," he said.

"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 United States Open finalist said he had considered battling

through the coming Australian Open on painkillers, but then 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 explained.

Philippoussis said he would be off crutches in about two days and be

able to start his rehabilitation program.

However, he added that he would return to his Florida home before the

Australian Open begins to avoid the frustration of watching from the

sidelines.

Philippoussis's coach, Peter McNamara, said on Thursday that a

combination of poor Davis Cup scheduling and unfair public expectations

was taking its toll on Australia's major male players.

McNamara, a former top player, said exempting the cup finalists from the

following year's opening tie should be the first step in a much-needed

revamp of the tournament.

McNamara said stars such as Philippoussis and Patrick Rafter, who was

forced to withdraw from his singles match during this year's final

against Spain in Barcelona earlier this month due to cramps, suffered

from burnout if they played every tie and supporter backlash if they

made themselves unavailable.

"Davis Cup needs a revamp anyway," he said. "I mean, these two teams

that played in Barcelona in December play again in February.

"That, to me, is fairly ridiculous. At least give the winner a bye or

something of that nature.

"You can't expect guys to keep coming up, especially with the schedules

the way they are.

"They've all got to play the super nines, where you travel half way

around the world to play in Brazil one week and then Amsterdam the next.

It's very difficult."

McNamara slammed the Australian public's attitude towards his young

charge.

Philippoussis, he said, should not be punished for missing Davis Cup

ties but remembered for his outstanding efforts in winning both singles

rubbers in the final against France in Nice last year. "I get really

upset with some of the reporters that are pro other players for whatever

reason and really are negative towards him," McNamara said.

"They forget the things that he's done. He did win the Davis Cup last

year. No-one ever mentions that.

"They only mention that he didn't play in Mildura or something. I mean,

who cares? I didn't play somewhere.

"I think, for his sake and for Australia's sake, that he does the best

he can and I have no doubt he will prove a lot of people wrong in 2001."

McNamara said Rafter, who has been one of Australia's favourite sporting

sons throughout his career, was also feeling the effects of his

commitment to Davis Cup.

"Patrick will hurt from Barcelona because he gave it everything," he

said.

"He went down there three weeks early and he gave it everything he

could, which is typical of Patrick and I admire him for that. But you do

pay a price.

"It happened to all of us when we played Davis Cup. There is a price. It

happened to Mark when he played last year. You're not as fresh after

Davis Cup as you think you are."

McNamara said Philippoussis had been approaching peak fitness before

undergoing the surgery for his cartilage injury and looked determined to

make next year his best season on the circuit. "If he's strong enough

mentally, and wants it bad enough, then by the end of 2001 I have no

doubts he will be in the top five," he said.

"Mark sometimes needs to be pushed, but in the last month or so he's

done a lot of stuff himself without me, which has been pretty impressive

for the kid.

"I am very proud of him for the way he's gone about his physical

training."