By ASHLEY BROWNE

Friday 29 November 1996

Mark Philippoussis was trotted out before the cameras for an all-too-rare

public appearance yesterday, when he appeared at the relaunch of a tennis

magazine.

The invitations had arrived asking the bearer to ``meet Mark Philippoussis

and help celebrate ... ''

Naturally, the media hordes turned up at Melbourne Park in impressive

numbers, considering the competing attractions of the golf and the release

of the AFL draw, in the hope that Philippoussis would break his silence and

speak out on an eventful year in which he sacked three coaches, won his

first title and mourned the death of his close friend and manager, Brad

Robinson.

It was a forlorn hope. Philippoussis has become the most reluctant Melbourne

sports identity since former Carlton defender Bruce Doull.

Yesterday, Philippoussis hung around only long enough to mutter a brief

statement in officially launching the new-look magazine, and signing a few

posters to be auctioned for charity. He was then scooted away to another

engagement by a frowning group of minders from his management company

leaving even fellow celebrity Dermott Brereton waiting in the wings.

To make things worse, Philippoussis wasn't even spared five minutes to

mingle and press the flesh of those who had invited him along.

Philippoussis remains the most popular tennis player in the country, but his

public relations continue to be a disaster. Back in Australia for nearly a

month, he has remained off limits to all but a select few.

He continues to cut an aloof figure in a sport for which Australians are

renowned for being easy to approach and even easier to get along with once a

basic level of trust has been established.

While Philippoussis continues to run for cover whenever a microphone is

thrust in his direction, his peers are making themselves freely available

even during what is, for most of them, the off-season.

Australian tennis has made enormous strides in the PR department in recent

years, but the cone of silence over its biggest name continues to be a black

mark against the sport. To make things worse, officialdom is powerless to do

anything about it.

Mark Philippoussis is apparently mature enough to trade blows with Pete

Sampras on the great tennis courts of the world, but not mature enough to

chat for a few minutes with his home-town media.

It reflects poorly on him, on his management and on tennis. It is difficult

to imagine the situation being tolerated in any other sport.