WIMBLEDON

July 5, 2000

Mark Philippoussis

MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, Mark Philippoussis.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: What did what feel like?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, obviously, you know, one or two points that cost me that first set. It would have been nice, you know, to get the first set, sort of settled down a little bit. I mean, Andre is such a great front-runner. You know, when he's got confidence, it's going to be tough to get back. You know, like I said, I'm happy with the way I played today, obviously. A couple double-faults cost me both of my service games. You know, against a player like that who returns so well, you have to step it up a little on your serve. That's going to cost you a little.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I'm a little sore. That's something I knew was going to happen. You know, I was prepared for today's match. I was feeling good.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, I wouldn't say that. I still felt good in the second also. Like I said, a couple double-faults costed me that service game. I was feeling good. Most of his serves, service games, I felt like I was in there. A lot of points got to 30-All. I had a couple of breakpoint chances. Against a player like Andre, you've got to take those opportunities.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, it's different if I didn't go for it. Like I said, I had to step it up a little. I put a little extra pace than I would have normally done. I missed them. You know, there were times when I made them in other matches, got me through them. Today, you know, it cost me the service game.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, I don't feel like there is. I mean, I knew exactly that was going to happen today. I was ready for it. You know, I felt good serving out there. I was expecting that.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, it didn't throw me off at all. He did that before, you know. I saw him step back a little. Didn't throw me off, no.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I hope there will be a difference.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: You know, I felt like I can hold my head up high. Wasn't anything to be ashamed of the way I played today. There were two breaks out there, and that costed me the match. It was simple. I was in it in the tiebreaker. I felt like, you know, the start of the tiebreaker I had the upper hand definitely on some of the rallies. I missed a forehand. Came in off a good return, missed a forehand volley. Who knows, one or two points, get me the tiebreaker, it's a different match. But, like I said, I can take a lot of positive things away from this championship. I'm going to come back stronger next year.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I mean, I'm improving everything. I'm trying to improve everything every time I get on the practise court - my serves, my returns, my volleys, my movements, groundstrokes. What it is, too, you need a bit of luck in Grand Slams. Of course, you need to bit of luck. It's tough. I played some tough matches. Running into Andre in the quarterfinals, it's tough. To win these things, you need to get through those matches.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Sure. I mean, to think that Mike and Gav and myself, we put pretty much, you know, 12 hard days in, 10 hard days in before this tournament. I definitely feel a difference with my attitude, my fitness, you know, the way I am on the court. It's going to get better and better. We're going to work harder. I'm going to be looking forward to the American summer. It's going to be exciting.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I think definitely that will be his first test of the tournament. Obviously he must be playing good tennis. Obviously he's back to where he was, after the tournament win before this. But that will definitely be a test, I mean, he'll have to be serve-volleying pretty good to have a chance to beat him.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. I mean, like I said, I know he's one of the best returners in the world, the way he picks up the ball so much earlier than anyone else. I think a couple stages he actually half-volleyed my serve he was so far in. It's not surprising.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I tell you what, you know, I don't know how Pete's injury is. He's not warming up. It's always going to take him a while to get into the match, not having to warm up before, the day before you play. He's going to pretty much always start late, you know, in his matches. I think if that happens against Andre, and Andre gets past Pat, obviously whoever wins there, obviously, it's going to be tough.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: The thing is, on grass, that kick serve is not really that effective, I don't think. Pete, who has won six times here, he doesn't really kick that second serve. Looks like he pretty much goes for it every time with a bit of slice. It's so much tougher to pick up. I think if you kick it, it's not going to kick that much, and the ball's going to sit up a little bit. He'll have to vary his serve.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: He's part of the team.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Experience. He's been with Boris for five years. He's learned a lot with him. He knows what he's talking about. He's a hard worker. Along with Gavin, I think he'll put me into gear.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I'm in the team.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I mean, I'll try and go as soon as I can.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yes.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Obviously I'm extremely excited, having the Olympics at home in Australia, Sydney. I mean, my last experience in Atlanta was incredible, staying in the village amongst the best athletes in the world. It's quite incredible to go off and see other competitions. It was a great experience. I think for a lot of players, especially me, it's going to be big. Obviously I'm looking forward to winning a medal for your country, it's going to be an extremely big thing. After what happened in Davis Cup, the feeling I had after we won it, I'm excited, looking forward to it.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No. The tournament's over for me. I'll just go home.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Melbourne.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I don't know. I'm sure I'll be looking at a couple different things.