RAFTER: DOUBLES BETTER THAN PRACTICE
From Foxsports (The Australian)
By Patrick Miles
28 March 2001
KEY BISCAYNE: Taking a leaf from John McEnroe's manual, Pat Rafter would rather play doubles than undergo the grind of practice sessions during a tournament.
The Queenslander also claims to be "not a creature of the night",meaning he feels more comfortable playing in daylight.
"That's why I play doubles, so I cannot play night matches," the No. 8 seed said with a smile after another satisfying victory at the Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne.
Rafter, who is playing doubles with his Davis Cup teammate, Lleyton Hewitt, beat Francisco Clavet 6-3 3-6 6-3 to advance to a fourth-round clash with another Spaniard, Alex Corretja, who Rafter defeated in Indian Wells the week before last.
Asked on a hot Miami afternoon whether he was feeling fit for the doubles, Rafter replied: "Yeah, bloody oath, I'm ready.
"So far, so good - I'm enjoying playing singles and doubles. I feel like it's a bit of extra fitness work and a bit more fun out there. Otherwise, I have to go out there and hit balls and I don't want to do that.
"It's good for the Davis Cup as well, just helping on the fitness. I've got five-set matches in Brazil.
"I'm trying to learn a little bit about Lleyton and myself and see if we might have an outside chance of combining for the Davis Cup as well."
Rafter and Hewitt encountered the vastly experienced Zimbabweans, Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett, in the third round and advanced 6-2 6-4.
Australia's captain, John Fitzgerald, is due to announce today his four-man team for the quarter-final in Florianopolis on April 6-8.
At the moment, it appears likely Wayne Arthurs will retain his place, along with Rafter and Hewitt.
"It looks that way," Rafter said. "There will be guys playing off all over the place for the fourth spot."
Considering his match against Corretja, the 10th seed, Rafter said: "I'm going to have to go out there and play at a very high standard to beat him again.
"He'll probably try something different - he's a smart player. I've still got to play my game and he knows what he's going to get from me."
Conversley, one never knows what Mark Philippoussis will do from one match to the next. It seems not even he knows.
Philippoussis, the No. 16 seed, has a game to confound the best in the world but it is not underpinned by consistency. He has also suffered physically since he met with what he described as "a freak accident" at Wimbledon in 1999.
After taking the first set from Switzerland's Roger Federer, Philippoussis blasted his way into oblivion, losing 3-6 7-6 6-2.
The Victorian, who had surgery at the end of last year, was very disconsolate after his match when he showed this reporter his left knee, which had swollen to almost twice the size of his right one.
"I can hardly bend it," he said. "It's frustrating and it's unfair."
Philippoussis, who will seek medical advice in Miami before deciding on his schedule, raised the possibility of taking two months off to ensure a full recovery.
Yugoslavia's finest, Jelena Dokic, continued her impressive run through the women's draw by overpowering No. 6 seed Amanda Coetzer.
In her first tournament since January's Australian Open, Dokic defeated the South African 6-3 7-5 to arrange a meeting with Venus Williams in the quarter-finals.
PHILIPPOUSSIS TO UNDERGO SURGERY AGAIN
Tennis Australia
30 March 2001
Australia's Mark Philippoussis has sustained another tear to the cartilage in his left knee and will tomorrow undergo surgery in Florida, USA.
The big-hitting right-hander returned to the Tour last month after being sidelined with left knee surgery over the Australian summer.
Knee soreness has been ongoing since his title win in Memphis mid last month, and again flared up during his match against Roger Federer in Miami earlier this week.
An MRI scan conducted today in Florida confirmed a new tear andPhilippoussis must again undergo knee surgery.
"Naturally I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said today from Florida."I came back last month and won in Memphis and I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness.
"This is a set back, but nothing more than that," he said. "I'm young and I'm positive I'll make a full recovery."
Philippoussis' Tour return date is unknown, but at least a two-month lay off is expected.
PHILIPPOUSSIS OUT FOR TWO MORE MONTHS AFTER KNEE OP
Reuters, Sydney
30 March 2001
Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis will undergo knee surgery in the United States which is expected to keep him out for two more months after aggravating an old injury.
Philippoussis said in a statement released by Tennis Australia on Friday that he would be operated on in Florida after tearing a cartilage in his left knee.
The former U.S. Open finalist said it was the same problem that forced him to miss this year's Australian Open and he expected to be out of action for another two months.
"Naturally I'm disappointed. I came back last month and won in Memphis and I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness," the 24-year-old Philippoussis said.
"This is a setback but nothing more than that. I'm young and I'm positive and I'll make a comeback."
SCUD OUT TWO MONTHS
Foxsports
30 March 2001
MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS is facing two months on the sidelines following another knee injury.
Philippoussis, who underwent an operation in December for cartilage damage to his left knee, has suffered the same problem in a different area of the same knee.
He will go under the knife in Miami tomorrow.
Putting on a brave front, Philippoussis said he's disappointed but he's only young and there's plenty of good tennis ahead of him.
PHILIPPOUSSIS HIT BY FURTHER KNEE SURGERY
Agence France-Presse
30 March 2001
Mark Philippoussis is out of tennis for two months after another knee injury that requires surgery.
The Australian star, who underwent an operation in December for cartilage damage to his left knee, suffered the same problem in a different area of the same knee while losing to Roger Federer this week in Miami.
Philippoussis' worst fears were realised when an MRI scan confirmed his need to have surgery on Saturday.
"Naturally, I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said from Florida in a statement released here Friday by his manager John McCurdy.
"I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness. This is a setback, but nothing more than that.
"I'm young and I'm positive I'll make a full recovery."
Philippoussis, 24, scored a remarkable victory at Memphis last month on his return from his first operation.
This time he expects to be back for the English grasscourt season in June culminating in Wimbledon.
Despite Philippoussis' optimistic outlook, McCurdy admitted the latest ailment was a huge blow to what was becoming a disastrous year.
"It's just so frustrating and disappointing to have these setbacks," McCurdy said Friday.
"Mark's got a positive attitude and we've really just got to see what happens when he comes back, he's got a chance to be fit for the grass in England.
"He's still only 24, there's a lot of tennis in front of him, and the doctors have told him he'll make a 100 percent recovery. But it's a real shame."
McCurdy rejected the suggestion that Philippoussis' ailments might plague the rest of his career, which so far has included a US Open final and two singles victories in Australia's Davis Cup win of 1999.
"Two operations so quickly, one after another, is never a good thing, but they say he should make a full recovery," said McCurdy.
NEW SURGERY BLOW FOR SCUD
Another Setback
The Age
31 March 2001
Mark Philippoussis will have surgery today on a new knee injury that will sideline him for at least two months.
Philippoussis, who had an operation in December on his left knee, suffered more cartilage damage in a different area of the same knee while losing to Roger Federer in the Masters Series in Key Biscayne, Florida, this week.
A scan on Thursday revealed the seriousness of the injury.
"Naturally I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said from Florida in a statement released by his manager, John McCurdy. "I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness.
But it was "a setback", nothing more. "I'm young and I'm positive I'll make a full recovery," he said
Philippoussis scored a remarkable victory in Memphis last month on his return from his first operation.
This time, he should be back for the English grasscourt season in June.
Despite Philippoussis' optimism, McCurdy admitted the latest injury was a huge blow in what was becoming a disaster of a year.
"It's just so frustrating and disappointing to have these setbacks," he said.
"Two operations so quickly, one after another, is never a good thing, but (the doctors) say he should make a full recovery.
"Mark's got a positive attitude and we've really just got to see what happens when he comes back. He's got a chance to be fit for the grass in England."
Meanwhile, Pat Rafter has beaten Federer to join Lleyton Hewitt in the semi-finals of the Masters Series event for the Ericsson Cup.
Rafter will play the winner of the match between Australian Open champion Andre Agassi and Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia that was halted by a thunderstorm in the first set, with Ljubicic leading 3-1.
Earlier, third seed Venus Williams had beaten top-seeded defending champion Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6 to reach the women's final for the third time in four years.
The heavens held off long enough for Rafter to do a clinical demolition job on Federer.
A slight touch of tendinitis in his right wrist did not appear to affect the Australian as he coasted to a 6-3,6-1 win over the Swiss in 56minutes.
But, as a precaution, the eighth seed has withdrawn from the doubles.
"I am on anti-inflammatories for it for the past couple of weeks," Rafter said. "I want to go to Brazil (for the Davis Cup), play Brazil, then take a few weeks off and see how my wrist goes. If I go on playing, it will never go away, get worse and might require surgery."
After saving two break points - one each in the second and fourth games of the first set - Rafter did not falter again on his serve.
From 3-3 in the first set, the match was all Rafter as he attacked the net effectively and kept the 24th-ranked Federer off-kilter.
"I played very well, very sharp," he said. "I was fortunate to get out of my own serves when I was down two break points. But I got through those games and the match turned completely in my favor after that."
Williams, who had been embarrassed 6-1, 6-1 by Hingis at the Australian Open in January, used homecourt advantage to take the latest episode of what has become the hottest rivalry in women's tennis.
The Swiss world No.1 still holds a 10-8 career edge, but Williams has been virtually unstoppable on the Key Biscayne court not far from her home, taking her winning streak there to 17 matches.
"If I could play every tournament like I do the Ericsson, I would be undefeated," Williams said. "If I could do this every time, I'd be No.1."
SCUD FACES ANOTHER TROUBLING SLICE
Sydney Morning Herald
31 March 2001
Mark Philippoussis is putting on a brave face despite another knee injury that requires surgery and will sideline him for two months.
Philippoussis, who underwent an operation in December for cartilage damage to his left knee, suffered the same problem in a different area of the same knee this week in Miami.
Desperate to start capitalising on his undoubted potential, 24-year-old Philippoussis's worst fears were realised when an MRI scan confirmed his need to go under the knife today.
"Naturally I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said. "I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness. This is a setback but nothing more than that. I'm positive I'll make a full recovery."
Philippoussis scored a remarkable victory at Memphis last month on return from his first operation. This time he should be back for the English grasscourt season in June and, in particular, Wimbledon.
Despite his optimism, manager John McCurdy admitted the injury was a huge blow in what is becoming a disaster of a year.
"It's just so frustrating and disappointing to have these setbacks," McCurdy said.
"Mark's got a positive attitude and we've really just got to see what happens when he comes back. He's got a chance to be fit for the grass in England.
"He's still only 24, there's a lot of tennis in front of him, and the doctors have told him he'll make a 100 per cent recovery."
SURGERY FOR PHILIPPOUSSIS
The Herald Sun
31 March 2001
MARK Philippoussis is putting on a brave face despite another heartbreaking knee injury that requires surgery -- and will sideline him for at least two months.
Philippoussis, who underwent an operation in December for cartilage damage to his left knee, suffered the same problem in a different area of the same knee while losing to Roger Federer in Miami earlier this week.
Desperate to start capitalising on his undoubted potential, 24-year-old Philippoussis's worst fears were realised when an MRI scan confirmed his need to go under the knife today.
"Naturally I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said. "I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness.
"This is a setback, but nothing more than that.
"I'm young and I'm positive I'll make a full recovery."
Philippoussis scored a remarkable victory at Memphis last month on his return from his first operation.
This time, he should be back for the English grasscourt season in June and in particular, Wimbledon.
SCUD SIDELINED AGAIN
Sportal
31 March 2001
Mark Philippoussis has been cut down yet again by knee problems, the Scud set to go under the knife tomorrow in the United States just a month after returning from surgery on the same knee.
An MRI scan today revealed that Philippoussis has suffered a cartilage tear in his left knee, leaving the big-serving right-hander no choice but to have an operation tomorrow in Florida.
"Naturally I'm disappointed," Philippoussis said of the injury that will put him out for at least two months. "I came back last month and won in Memphis and I was feeling really good about my game and my fitness."
"This is a setback, but nothing more than that. I'm young and I'm positive I'll make a full recovery."
Phillippoussis' left knee has plagued him constantly since his title victory in Memphis last month, and came to a head in his defeat at the hands of Switzerland's Roger Federer in Miami earlier this week.