His epic performance in the Davis Cup final taught Mark Philippoussis the value of mental toughness and he intends taking his new talent into this week's Hopman Cup defence.

Philippoussis now expects to be as focussed every time he walks out on court as he was when he wrapped up the Davis Cup for Australia against France's Cedric Pioline in Nice last month.

Philippoussis and Jelena Dokic open their defence of the Hopman Cup mixed teams title they won for Australia last year against qualifiers Thailand in Perth on Tuesday.

The Victorian said while he doesn't feel any outside pressure after the Davis Cup, he expects more of himself since his efforts in Nice. "There is no pressure,'' he said.

"This is what the sport is about and it is only going to make me train harder and want to win more.

"I know what I have to do and I know how I have to play and the way I played in the Davis Cup just showed what I can do.

"The way I concentrated on that match, I realised I can maintain that and if I do then who knows what can happen this year.

"The Davis Cup has started the career of many players and I have never concentrated in a game like that in my life.

"I was focussed from the first to the last point and I expected that of myself every time I walk on court.''

Philippoussis said he was working on his consistency, mental toughness on court and being 100 per cent mentally and physically prepared for every match.

``I am going to do everything possible to be in the best shape of my career and it is a great start to the year at the Hopman Cup to be guaranteed at least three matches.''

Dokic, who made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last year, also expects plenty of herself in the new century. The confident 16-year-old has her sight set on the top 15.

``I think I could have done better after Wimbledon last year,'' she said. ``Last year at this time I didn't have a ranking and to finish the year at No.43 was pretty good for me.

``But now I have got to improve and move up and I am hoping to finish this year in the top 15. ``I always ask more of myself and this is a great tournament to start the year well and hopefully it will be better this year.'' AAP