The Australian, who plays his first tournament for 2001 as second seed in Memphis this week, believes the knee will need rest after five consecutive tournaments. After the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Philippoussis is scheduled to play in San Jose, where he is the two-time defending champion, Scottsdale, Indian Wells and Miami.

Speaking at a teleconference before the St Jude tournament, Philippoussis was hardly encouraging when questioned about his Davis Cup availability. "You play five tough weeks and when it's your time to recover, that's when they put on Davis Cup," Philippoussis said of his upcoming schedule.

"It's unfortunate that it's at the moment where I need to relax ... or keep my knee in shape or recover physically, so it's going to be tough. "Philippoussis' manager, John McCurdy, was more sanguine, saying the Scud would liaise with cup captain John Fitzgerald after he completes the next two tournaments.

Philippoussis said his knee was feeling good. "They are saying the surgery was a success. I've done all the right things and it's getting stronger, so I just have to knock on wood, but I think I'm ready to play," Philippoussis said.

Philippoussis will face Juan Albert Viloca of Spain in his opening match in the St Jude Classic. It will be his first competitive match since having a second arthroscopic operation on the knee in December.

Philippoussis has been hampered by pain since he tore the cartilage.

"I can't remember the last time I didn't have pain but it was before my first surgery that was after that Wimbledon," said Philippoussis. "When you're an athlete, it's not every day that you feel 100 per cent since there's always something niggling you."

Philippoussis, who ended last season in 11th place on the ATP points race, recently decided to bring back two-time Wimbledon doubles champion Peter McNamara for a second stint as his coach. He is hoping that McNamara can help jump-start his passion for the game, which he readily admits was waning.

"I felt I was losing myself as a player," Philippoussis said. "I didn't know why I wasn't enjoying myself on the court. I didn't feel like I was improving. "I feel I have the game to take me up there, to number one, two, three, four, five - or number 10. I was just being inconsistent and wasn't fighting on the court."

In the end, however, Philippoussis realises that he has to find a way to rekindle that fire, no matter who is serving as his coach.

"In tennis, there's no one who can keep you in the game but yourself," he said. "The one thing I like about tennis is that it's up to you."

In first-round action here, Swiss George Bastl, eight days after taking part in his country's stunning first-round Davis Cup upset of the United States, rallied to beat American Justin Gimelstob.

Bastl battled back from the brink of elimination for a 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory over Gimelstob, who had served for the match at 5-4 in the second set.

AAP, Reuters