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'It is really hard for me' Doctors advise Philippoussis to give up tennis
Updated: Monday October 08, 2001 6:05 PM VIENNA (Reuters) -- Mark Philippoussis was knocked out of the first round of the $800,000 CA Trophy as his struggle for form following his return to the circuit continued on Monday. The big-serving Australian, who returned last month after a six-month break following a knee operation, fell 3-6 6-3 6-1 to Spain's Alberto Martin. Philippoussis blamed his defeat on a lack of practice, but vowed to defy surgeons who told him he should never play the game again. "It is really hard for me," said Philippoussis, who lost in the second round of the Hong Kong Open two weeks ago on his return to competition. "I am losing the matches and I have to be more positive on court. I hope I can remain fit for the rest of the year." "The doctors told me already I had to give up tennis and now I am trying to prove the opposite," the Australian told Austria's APA news agency. Philippoussis said he had no plans to take part in the Davis Cup final against France in Melbourne. "My priority is completely on myself at the moment," he said. In the second match of the men's tournament, number three seed Alex Corretja of Spain slumped to defeat by unseeded Andreas Vinciguerra. Corretja lost 3-6 6-1 6-4 to the 20-year-old Swede. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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