Scud makes a cruel exit
By RICHARD HINDS, LONDON
Mark Philippoussis' hopes of winning Wimbledon ended in despair today when he was forced to withdraw from his quarter-final with top seed and world No.1 Pete Sampras because of a knee injury.
Philippoussis limped from centre court in obvious distress, having injured himself while stretching for a forehand early in the second set.
Meanwhile, Australia's other title hope in the men's draw. Patrick Rafter, was one set all in his quarter-final against American Todd Martin, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7).
At the time of his injury, Philippoussis was leading the match one set to love and had just forced Sampras to save a break point at 1-1 in the second set when his left knee buckled beneath him as he tried to return a low serve. The Victorian played one more point after his injury, losing the game, then limped back to his chair.
A trainer was called and he then took a three-minute injury time-out during the change of ends during which he was treated both in his chair and while lying on a towel on the court. However, after his left knee had been massaged by a trainer, Philippoussis decided he could not go on and immediately shook hands with Sampras.
The injury came just as Philippoussis appeared capable of repeating his famous victory over Sampras at the 1996 Australian Open. Sampras had conceded a break of serve in the first set after serving three doubles faults, while Philippoussis' renowned big serve was working well, getting him out of trouble in the only game when Sampras had held break points in the first set, which he won 6-4.
The stakes were higher here than they had been in 1996, however, with Philippoussis having shown with his victories in the first four rounds, and in the early part of this match, that he had the form to match his pre-tournament prediction that he could win his first grand slam tournament.
Philippoussis had also demonstrated an increased toughness in this event, coming back to win three of his four matches after losing the first set. So it was ironic that it was his body, and not his mind, that let him down.
For Sampras, there was some irony in having been handed an important victory against an Australian because of an injury. The American limped through his semi-final defeat to Australian Pat Rafter in last year's United States Open with a thigh injury.
However, Philippoussis was not even able to continue this time and hobbled off the court with his bag.
The injury puts Philippoussis in doubt for Australia's Davis Cup tie against the US in Boston next month, a big blow given the efforts that have been made to bring him back into the fold.
Meanwhile, Rafter took a determined step towards his first Wimbledon semi-final appearance by taking the first set of his quarter-final against Martin.
After the match resumed at 3-3 in the first set, having been held over from yesterday due to rain, Rafter won the first three games of the day to take the set 6-3 in 45minutes.
The match on court13 was one of several to be halted by rain yesterday. The first six games had gone to serve, but Rafter was two break points down to the eighth-seeded Martin in the seventh at 15-40.
The Queenslander came out serving strongly, however, to win the first four points of the day. He then secured the first break of the match to go up 5-3 and held comfortably for the set.
Rafter would become world No.1 if he beat Martin and if American Andre Agassi lost his quarter-final today to Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten. However, Agassi won the first two sets against the Brazilian 6-3, 6-4.
Should Rafter and Agassi meet in a semi-final, the winner would grab the top ranking from Sampras.
Martin, who has moved through the tournament with no fanfare, showed that Rafter wouldn't get it all his way by fighting back to take the second set in a tiebreak.
Coming into form from the baseline, Martin seized an early break in the second game and led 3-0 after holding serve.
Rafter battled to level at 3-3 after breaking Martin in the fifth game, but then found himself down a set point at 4-5. But he escaped after Martin hit a backhand passing shot wide of the line from the baseline, and the set went to serve from there, and into a tiebreak.
Martin latched on to a crucial mini-break in the tiebreak to lead 4-2, and went on to prevail 7-5 to secure the set.
In the other men's singles match, England's Tim Henman won the first two sets 6-4, 6-2 against Frenchman Cedric Pioline.
Knee injury puts Scud out
By LOUISE ROBSON
Mark Philippoussis made a shock exit from the Wimbledon tennis championships today, pulling out injured after he won the first set in his quarter-final against Pete Sampras.
Philippoussis took the set from the defending champion 6-4 and Sampras was serving at 1-1 in the second set when trouble struck.
The American had saved one break-point from Philippoussis, the first player to take a set off the World No.1 in the tournament, and had advantage in the third game when the 22-year-old Melbournian stretched for a low forehand.
His leg buckled and he limped off court as Sampras took the game to go 2-1 up.
Philippoussis called for the trainer who worked on his left knee for four minutes before Philippoussis called it quits. Sampras progressed to meet the winner of the match on Centre Court between local hero Tim Henman and unseeded Frenchman Cedric Pioline.
Philippoussis got off to a promising start in the first set, thanks to three Sampras double-faults which gave him a break in the opening game. The Australian held his serve to go 2-0 and pushed Sampras to break point in the next, but the top seed held his serve.
Philippoussis took his next service game to love, closing with an ace, but Sampras served out to stay in the set.
He came back to put the seventh seed under pressure in the sixth game but Philippoussis saved four break-points, and kept his nerve at the net before sealing the game with an ace for a 4-2 lead and serving out the set.
Sampras, who is on course for his sixth Wimbledon title, admitted he had ``dodged the bullet'' when Philippoussis retired. ``I feel pretty fortunate to be alive in this tournament,'' he said.
``There was no question he was outplaying me especially in the first set.
``I had some chances to break I was playing well but he was coming up with some big serves.
``He was playing well and there was still a lot of tennis to be played but the way he was playing he was going to be tough to beat today.''
And the top seed said Philippoussis had indicated the injury was quite severe as he pulled out. ``I was under the assumption he was going to play I thought he just pulled something, a little niggly thing, but I think it's pretty serious.
``He said he can't walk.''
Philippoussis spoke briefly to reporters before leaving Wimbledon to go to hospital.
It is the first time Philippoussis has pulled out of a match, but he played down suggestions that he had Sampras on the run when he was forced to withdraw.
``I wouldn't say I had it in control. It's a shame to go out that way,'' he said.
``I definitely felt like I was hitting the ball well, I was enjoying the match.''
``I'm not sure yet what's happened, I'm going to get an MRI done,'' he said.
``Obviously I'm disappointed.
``I hope it's not really serious.''
He said he had fallen awkwardly on the deuce point as he hit a backhand passing shot down the line.
``I heard a click and thought nothing of it.
``He did a serve and then I jumped and heard a huge click and again on the serve I heard a click and I knew right there, I was extremely worried and it just got stiffer and stiffer.''
He said he had not felt any pain Philippoussis said it was too early to say what the injury would mean to the rest of his tennis commitments this year, including his Davis Cup squad position.