Philippoussis says he'll win Wimbledon

Philippoussis praised SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Former champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Australian Prime Minister John Howard congratulated Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis after his three-set loss Sunday. "He was very gracious in defeat, and all Australians admire his astonishing comeback," Howard said Monday. "He's got years of very good tennis left in him. "I'm certain he'll hold that trophy aloft some time in the future." Goolagong Cawley said Philippoussis played his best tennis but was overcome by a player who was also in top form. "I thought he did beautifully. Even before the tournament started, I thought, 'Well, Mark Philippoussis is in a great position here to just sneak through the door,'" Goolagong Cawley said. "There was no pressure on him and obviously he thrived on that. That's the best I've seen him play. "He's got nothing to be ashamed of. He played against someone who was really in top form and he just played very well anyway." It marked the fourth time in as many years that Australians stayed up well past their bedtime Sunday to watch an Australian in the Wimbledon final. Only Lleyton Hewitt's 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 win over David Nalbandian last year was faster than Federer's win Sunday in one hour, 56 minutes. Pat Rafter, now retired, kept Australians up well into the night in 2000 and 2001, losing a four-setter to Pete Sampras and then a five-setter to Goran Ivanisevic. The Sydney Morning Herald said Philippoussis was "shot down with Swiss precision." "For Mark Philippoussis, this was supposed to be a day of fulfillment," said the Herald. "Instead, the Australian became merely the honorable victim of Roger Federer, a new Wimbledon champion who seems destined for even greater things."

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis drew consolation Sunday from the career of another big server with a polysyllabic surname and knack for coming close: Goran Ivanisevic.

Playing in his first Wimbledon final, Philippoussis lost to Roger Federer 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3). Despite the defeat, Philippoussis was encouraged by his progress in a comeback from knee problems that nearly ended his career.

"Goran was in the final three times before he won it," Philippoussis said. "I'm definitely going to hold that trophy up before I retire, that's for sure."

Ivanisevic won his only Grand Slam title in 2001 at Wimbledon. It was his 48th major event, the most for a first-time men's champion in the Open era.

The 26-year-old Philippoussis has played 28 Grand Slam tournaments and finished second twice. He was also the runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1998, losing to Australian compatriot Pat Rafter.

"It's not easy sitting back and looking at your opponent holding up the cup and the trophy," Philippoussis said. "It has definitely made me more determined."

He wasn't the only one disappointed. Outside Centre Court, fans sporting Australian flags and inflatable kangeroos clogged a grass terrace -- Hillapoussis? -- and rooted for their mate as they watched the match on a big-screen TV.

"I wish I could have given them something a little more to yell about," Philippoussis said.

He was an improbable finalist, arriving at Wimbledon with a 9-7 record in Grand Slam matches over the past three years. He was trying to become just the third unseeded men's champion since Wimbledon began seeding players in 1927.

Philippoussis socked serves at up to 138 mph at Federer but totaled just 14 aces -- compared with an average of 27 in his six other matches. He was also less sharp at the net than earlier in the tournament.

"He just looked like all the pressure was on him," said Australian Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion. "He didn't move well. He didn't relax. He never really got settled the whole match. He didn't play a shadow of what he did the rest of the tournament."

Philippoussis denied being tight or tired.

"I felt pretty good," he said. "I wasn't too nervous. ... I can't really say I did much wrong."

His worst mistake was a double fault serving at 4-5 in the first tiebreaker. Two points later, he had a crack at a second serve from Federer and took a big swing, but the shot sailed eight feet wide to give Federer the set.

Philippoussis then lost his serve twice in a row -- the only breaks in the match -- and fell behind 4-0 in the second set.

"I just pressed a little, and I guess pressed too much," he said. "That first set was big. It definitely gets the momentum going, and that's what happened."

The showing at Wimbledon hikes his ranking from 48th to 20th. Confident he's headed in the right direction, Philippoussis will fly home to Southern California for some surfing off San Diego, then start preparing for the U.S. Open.

He's eager to improve on that runner-up finish five years ago -- and the one Sunday.

"This is just the beginning for me," he said. "I'm only going to be keener and eager after what happened today, and more pumped up."

 

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