Mark Philippoussis
Mark began his career as one of the most promising and exciting young talents to emerge on the ATP World Tour for many years. In 1995, at the age of 19, he earned himself the award for ATP Newcomer of the year and finished the year as the youngest player inside the Top 50.
In January 1996 at the Australian Open, Mark produced one of the most staggeringly powerful tennis performances ever seen to blow Pete Sampras off the court in straight sets.
From there his career went from strength to strength, and in 1998 Mark reached his first career Grand Slam final at the US Open where he was beaten by compatriot Pat Rafter in four sets. In 1999, he broke into the Top 10 for the first time.
It was in the quarter finals at Wimbledon that year that Mark was forced to retire with a knee injury while leading reigning Champion Pete Sampras by a set to love. After the match, Sampras commented that he had ‘dodged a bullet out there.’ The American went on to lift the title.
Throughout the next decade, the man known as ‘Scud’ suffered a series of debilitating injuries, mostly to his knees. He underwent three knee surgeries.
At Wimbledon in 2003 Mark advanced to the Championships’ final where he met Roger Federer, a young Swiss talent who at the time had no Grand Slam titles to his name. After losing in four close sets, Mark would forever be remembered as the man that was on court at the start of Federer’s reign over world tennis. That year Mark was named ATP Comeback Player of the Year.
He was unable to hit the heights after that because of more knee problems. However, after revolutionary knee surgeries Mark is now feeling as fit as ever, and feels the ATP Champions Tour is the perfect way for him to continue doing what he loves - playing tennis.
