The Age

19^th January 2001

By BRETT FOLEY

Mark Phiippoussis thought he was a pretty unlucky guy to be missing the Australian Open through injury. That was until Monday, when he toured some of Melbourne's worst areas for teenage drug use and decided his problems were relatively trivial.

While other tennis stars were slogging it out in the first round at Melbourne Park, Philippoussis was being shown around the most notorious streets of Footscray and the city centre by welfare workers from the Open Family group.

He said he was stunned by the problems he saw. "It just brings you down to earth and makes you realise how insignificant some of the things affecting you are," he said.

He made the comments while launching Open Family's Back to School program, which assists about 600 students each year to stay in, or return to school by providing them with support and resources.

While Philippoussis came to talk about teenagers on the streets of Footscray and the city, the media were particularly keen to quiz him about another troubled teenager, Jelena Dokic.

Philippoussis said he felt sincere sympathy for Dokic and the treatment she received durIng her first-round match. He said he told his former Hopman Cup partner to keep her head up and stay positive.

"She looks unhappy on the court. It's a real shame, and because she's 17 she should be enjoying herself," he said. "I understand how some people would react, but at the same time when a 17-year-old girl walks on to the court and people boo her, I really felt for her." He believed she has displayed great strength and character under pressure.

Philippoussis said he was disappointed not to be taking part in the Open but had taken the chance to spend some time with his family and friends and to do some community work.