Mark Philippoussis

 This biography was written and composed by Soufien Talbi :

            Name : Mark Anthony Philippoussis

Þ    Birthdate : November 7, 1976

Þ    Birthplace : Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Þ    Height : 6'4" (1,93 m)

Þ    Weight : 202lbs (91,8 kgs)

Þ    Plays : Right-handed

Þ    Turned Pro : 1994

Þ    Coach : Peter McNamara

Þ    Residences : Melbourne & South Florida & California

Þ    Family : Father - Nick, a former football soccer player; Mother - Rossana; Sister - Anna Maria, a teacher

Shoes : Fila

Racquet : Head

      Clothing : Fila

Nicknamed the "Scud" for his 142 mph (229 kmh) missile-like serves, Mark Anthony Philippoussis is considered one of the best talents in tennis. With 9 singles titles and 3 doubles titles. Began playing tennis at age six with his father, Nick, a former soccer goalkeeper... In doubles, he and Ben Ellwood finished as No. 1 junior team in world in 1994, winning Australian, Wimbledon and Italian juniors... Played in Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and reached 3rd RD in singles...Has a 9-5 career Davis Cup record in seven ties...Earned ATP Newcomer of Year award in 1995....Named in People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 1998 issue as one of the sexiest imports...Sports an Alexander the Great tatoo on his right arm...Enjoys basketball and a frequent spectator at Miami Heat games...Featured in ATP's "New Balls Please" campaign...In People Magazine's "The Sexiest Man Alive 2000" issue, 80 men from around the world were listed in annual issue and among 15 Aussies in the "Awesome Aussies" section, Philippoussis, Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter were featured...Moved from Miami to Delray Beach, Fla. in June 2001...Coached by countryman Peter McNamara, a former two-time Wimbledon doubles champion (since October 2000).

1994 – In doubles, won in Perth (w/Ellwood)

1995 – Jumped from 307 to No. 32 and was youngest player, 19, in year-end Top 50

1996 – Reached 4th round (lost to Woodforde) at Australian Open where he upset No. 1 Sampras in 3rd round...1996-Won his first title in Toulouse (d. Larsson)...In doubles, advanced to semi-final at Wimbledon and US Open (w/Rafter)

1997 – Won a career-high three titles in five finals...On May 25, recorded a personal-best 142 mph (229 kmh) serve in three-set loss to A. Costa in final of Peugeot ATP Tour World Team Championship in Dusseldorf

1998 – Won title in Memphis (d. Chang) and reached first Grand Slam final at US Open (lost to Rafter)...Earned a career-high $1,272,620

1999 – Finished in Top 20 with titles in San Jose (d. Mamiit) and Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells (d. Moya)...Posted a 14-2 record through mid-March and broke into Top 10 for first time on March 29...Stayed there for 11 weeks...In May, helped Australia to ATP Tour World Team Championship title in Dusseldorf by winning three of four matches in team competition...Advanced to quarter-final at Wimbledon for second straight year and retired in 2nd set against No. 1 Sampras after winning first set...Suffered a moderate cartilage tear in his left knee and underwent arthroscopic surgery four days later on July 6...Returned seven weeks later in Indianapolis and lost in opening match...Did not play again until October 12 in Singapore where he lost in 2nd round...Upon his return, played in five indoor tournaments and compiled 7-5 record with quarter-final at Tennis Masters Series Paris (d. Krajicek, Henman, lost to Agassi) and Stockholm...Compiled 20-8 record on hard, 5-2 on grass and 5-5 on clay...

2000 – Finished year-end best No. 11 and in Top 20 for fourth consecutive year...Reached 4th round at Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Agassi...Successfully defended his title in San Jose (d. Tillstrom)...Advanced to semi-final at Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells and followed with 4th round appearance at Ericsson Open in Miami...Defeated Sampras 8-6 in fifth set at Roland Garros en route to 4th round (lost to Ferrero)...Made a third straight trip to quarter-final at Wimbledon (lost to Agassi)...Appeared in second Olympics, losing in 3rd RD to eventual gold medalist Kafelnikov...Closed season with a runner-up effort at Tennis Masters Series Paris (d. Kafelnikov, Kuerten, lost to Safin after a wonderful final !!)...

2001 – Captured his ninth career title in his first tournament after coming back from left knee surgery on December 20, 2000 defeated Viloca, Gustafsson, Tursunov and Sanguinetti en route to title in Memphis on February 21, after losing in 3rd round at Tennis Masters Series Miami to Federer, underwent left knee surgery again on March 29 to repair torn ligaments missed next six months of season and returned on September 26 in Hong Kong (lost to Schuettler in 2nd round) competed in only nine events throughout year.

2002 – The Australian had another injury-plagued season but finished in Top 100 for seventh time in eight years despite not winning a title for first time since 1995 played only 14 tournaments during season after aggravating left knee injury at US Open on August 27 began year with what turned out to be his best week in native Adelaide reached final with victories over Boutter, Schalken, T. Martin in quarter-final and Arazi in semi-final before losing to Henman in final also reached doubles final (w/Henman), losing to Black-Ullyett in third set tie-break at Australian Open, defeated Blanco in 1st round before losing to Rusedski in 2nd round won only two of next eight matches going into Roland Garros came back from two sets down for first time in his career to defeat Frenchman Julien Varlet in 1st round (lost to Moya in 2nd round) On grass, advanced to 3rd round at Queen's (defeated M. Lee, d. Rusedski, lost to Ferreira in third-set tie-break) and 4th round at Wimbledon defeated Boutter in 1st round at All England Club, Enqvist in 2nd round and Kiefer in 3rd round before losing five-set. On US hard courts, lost to Krajicek in 2nd round at Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati in straight sets and lost in 1st round at Indianapolis to Schuettler At Flushing Meadows, was leading two sets to one against Schalken in 1st round when he fell and injured his left knee ! Played on until 3-5 down in fourth set before retiring did not play again rest of season, but compiled records of 5-2 on grass, 7-7 on hard, 2-5 on clay.