The boy becomes a man
By Linda Pearce

When tennis history writes its final chapter on the colorful life and times of Mark Philippoussis, 2 July, 1999, is likely to be a significant date. Leading by a set and holding a break point in his Wimbledon quarter-final against Pete Sampras, Philippoussis was stretching for a low forehand return when he twisted his left knee and was forced to default.

He retreated to the locker-room where he lay on a rub-down table and sobbed in the arms of his father and lifelong mentor, Nick. Philippoussis' big chance - probably his best opportunity yet - of winning a grand slam title had gone. Who could know if or when another would come along?

The 22-year-old, who had for so long seemed an oversized kid preoccupied with his big boy's toys, had reached a crossroad. And, being forced to confront his tennis-playing mortality was, perhaps, the start of a development that five months later paid astonishing dividends in the Davis Cup final against France and may yet be rivalled over the next fortnight at Melbourne Park.

"I think he could have won Wimbledon, he was in that sort of zone, and towards the end of the year you were starting to sense something was going to happen,'' says coach Gavin Hopper. "The injury came out of such a simple thing, and definitely you understand that one little move on the court can finish your professional sports life. Therefore over a period of time there comes a little urgency in terms of getting the best out of yourself.

"It may have been at the same time as he changed from 22 to 23 and gets a little bit more mature, and at that point where the body's physically starting to become what you could probably call a real man's body. And then the injury happens at the same time so all of a sudden these factors culiminate in a realisation that the next few years are pretty exciting for him.''

So it seems. Despite his breakthrough win over Sampras in the fourth round of the 1996 Australian Open, Philippoussis was always going to take some time to grow into his strapping 194-centimetre frame. A few kilos of puppy fat had lingered until the cumulative benefits of Hopper's demanding fitness regime kicked in. He is now moving in the right ways on the court, looking like the athlete he long promised to be.

Yet the mind, as ever, is harder to read, and the transformation may not yet be complete. Just when we thought Philippoussis had returned to the Davis Cup family, just when we were convinced that celebrating with his teammates and sucking in the adulation of a tickertape parade seemed sure to addict him to the national duty he claims to treasure, came reports he would sit out the first round of the title defence to maximise his chances on the ATP Tour.

"Scud snub,'' the headlines screamed. "Mark in doubt'', said Hopper, in alleged conversations he later denied. Then the damage control, and when Philippoussis fronted the media in Perth later that day it was as a picture of bewilderment. Where such stories had come from, he just did not know. Surprised, but available, said Philippoussis. Committed to the cause. End of story.

But is it? National selectors had been expecting his unavailability, as teammates were discussing it openly. "I'll be very interested to see how he goes with that,'' says Rafter. "Everyone was very disappointed, but he seems to have said he's going to play and that's good. We're all hoping that he'll be available.''

Hoping, but never completely confident. If only Philippoussis could get it right. As well as he has played the game, his public relations have often been so disastrous that the next controversy seems just around the nearest netpost. Remember the long line of sacked coaches? His ban on The Sunday Age for a jibe (aimed at vacuous TV and print reports) about the contents of his vast garage a few years back? The extraordinary outburst against icons John Newcombe and Tony Roche when he declined to play Davis Cup in 1998? What will be next?

Even his supporters acknowledge mistakes have been made. "Absolutely, but I guess I'm not as quick to blame him for that as you traditionally are,'' says friend and Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee. "Mark admits them himself, but he stands by everything he's done. He hasn't done it the same way everyone else would but he's been true to himself and he's been true to his family and I'll never criticise anyone for that.''

Yet Philippoussis remains a puzzle to others. "All this doubt about whether he's playing, it's weird,'' says former Davis Cup teammate Mark Woodforde, whose chumminess with his former foe during a Nice media conference was perhaps the best sign of just how well the prodigal Philippoussis' return has been accepted.

"I hope he realises that he would probably endear himself more to the public and the players involved if he just committed to it and said 'yes, I'm playing, no problem','' Woodforde continued. "It was just such a great feeling last year with him being in the team and we were all hoping that would rub off.''

Perhaps in some ways it has, and Hopper and others talk of the sense of accomplishment his Davis Cup heroics could bring to a player whose best grand slam result was losing the 1998 US Open final to Rafter. Philippoussis, who returned to the Williamstown family home via a snowboarding/exhibition week in Austria and a stop-off at the seven-bedroom, $2 million Miami mansion he shares with his father, says he was unaware of the impact of his feats until greeted by a public reception he describes as "incredible'' and "overwhelming''.

"I just like the way he looks at the moment,'' says 1993 US Open semi-finalist and potential Davis Cup coach Wally Masur. "It's hard to grow up in front of the world, and he's had personal problems, his father had health problems, he's had issues to deal with, which is tough for a young kid. But he's exciting. He's good for tennis.

"I guess at times I've scratched my head going 'God, where's he going?', but I like the way he's going now. His father seems to be happy to take somewhat of a backward seat and let his son become a man, and Pat Cash and Hopper seem like they are working really well in tandem, complementing each other, not getting in the way. And Flip's listening.''

Former great Fred Stolle believes he witnessed a coming of age on the indoor red clay of Nice. Never had Stolle senior seen Philippoussis so fit, or his footwork so good. Perhaps Wimbledon was a blessing. Maybe it took such a setback for Philippoussis to achieve the shape he is now in, the shape he needs to achieve what may soon lie ahead.

Having taken just a one-week break before resuming training on Boxing Day, the player himself talks of being more controlled with his play, and his big game of being more complete and consistent. Nor will he be intimidated by future big occasions, he promises, for he has thrived in the heat of a French cauldron. "I don't think I could feel that type of pressure again,'' he says. "It made me realise how relaxed I should be in other matches.''

Technically and mentally, Cash sees not one improvement, but many, and has tried to give Philippoussis a few more tools for his bag without depleting the existing equipment. Between six and 20 double faults a match has been reduced to a handful per tournament, yet the power of his monstrous serve maintained.

"One of the important things for us is to keep his aggressive style of play without giving away any free points,'' says Cash. "He's just becoming a tougher player all round. He's still crazy, but he's got the determination to improve, and his workload's getting better all the time.''

McNamee sees little change in Philippoussis the person, other than the inevitable steps towards maturity, and believes he has been harshly compared with "Perfect'' Pat Rafter. A halo for one does not necessarily mean a pitchfork for the other and McNamee argues that as circumstances have altered for the better, so have perceptions.

"I matured late myself ... and still struggling,'' McNamee laughs. "But it's hard to see too much going wrong now. I think Mark's got everything in perspective and he understands the potential of his game and what he has to do. It's a combination of his ability, which he's always had, the hurt of the Wimbledon experience, and the fact that he looked in the mirror in Nice and scrubbed up.

"The key in the Davis Cup final was for him to know that in the crunch he was going to come through instead of `oh, well one day I will. I've got the potential to do it, and I beat Sampras at the Australian Open, but then got killed by Woodforde the next day'. He had to find out if he had it himself, but he came through and he's now got the blueprint of the type of mental preparation he needs and is capable of. He is now a genuine contender for any grand slam, especially on hardcourt.''

All of which points to an exciting fortnight ahead at Melbourne Park (although life when Philippoussis is around is rarely dull), where the third favorite is tipped to be suited by the faster courts and lighter balls, but a likely fourth-round appointment with Andre Agassi awaits and then possibly a semi against Sampras. Rafter's heir, to many, is very apparent. "If he was a stock right now, I'd buy him,'' says Masur. "I like Mark Philippoussis.''

All of us have wanted to, but it has not always been that easy. And so the theory now goes that Wimbledon has helped instil in Philippoussis a greater sense of urgency, and that the Davis Cup experience has given him some idea of the rewards that await in the future. Perhaps his next big chance will come over the next fortnight. History should have some fun with that one.