Scud lives to play another day

[Yours!05]

Another wildcard for sinking Scud
By Leo Schlink
September 21, 2005

THE wildcards continue to rescue Mark Philippoussis, whose career rests on a knife edge.

The Wimbledon and US Open runner-up has been granted his 10th ATP event wildcard this year despite ranking 203rd in the world.

It means the Victorian will go into a Thailand Open draw that includes Roger Federer, Tim Henman and Marat Safin.

With only one semi-final at Rosmalen and a second-round at Wimbledon amongst a string of first-round losses, Philippoussis will be desperate to avoid further embarrassment.

The dual Davis Cup hero, world No.9 at the start of last season, has won only seven matches this year and seems destined for the Challenger circuit.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get back and be where I want to be," he said at the US Open. "I'm only 28."

The Thai Open begins on Monday, with officials still hopeful Lleyton Hewitt might play. The event's managing director Brian Marcar yesterday put a predictably inflated spin on Philippoussis's promotion to the main draw.

"It is a delight to add Mark Philippoussis, another world-class player, to the field at the Thailand Open," Marcar said.

"I'm sure there are many people who, like me, will jump at the opportunity to see this champion player live in action for the first time. "Philippoussis said he'd like to play in Thailand but his ranking has slipped so we're happy to be able to give him a wildcard into the event."

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[federerhoogenbandfan]

I hope he atleast finishes his career on a good note. It is sad he never fulfilled his early promise, although it was maybe inflated in some peoples eyes due to his serve.

 

[pound cat]

At the risk of being non PC (as if this ever mattered much here) I don't think Mark's very bright.

He can play tennis, but women, bikes, silly stuff has got in his way. I don't think I can remember one thing that thing guy has said that is quotable.


It takes talent ot be a pro, and it takes brains to make a career of it.

Hopefully he will find a nice girl and live happily ever after.

 

[Yours!05]

At the risk of being non PC (as if this ever mattered much here) I don't think Mark's very bright.

He can play tennis, but women, bikes, silly stuff has got in his way. I don't think I can remember one thing that thing guy has said that is quotable.


It takes talent ot be a pro, and it takes brains ot make a career of it.

Hopefully he will find a nice girl and live happily ever after.

You are too kind pound cat. And you're right about the brain deficit...

 

[pound cat]

Yours!105...Scud was lucky to have had his father guiding his career all these years. He must have his family wringing their hands over all those ditsy women and motorcycles he's been involved with.

 

[Yours!05]

Yours!105...Scud was lucky to have had his father guiding his career all these years. He must have his family wringing their hands over all those ditsy women and motorcycles he's been involved with.

Very likely. BTW, strangely enough (given that we don't appreciate non-triers here) the press has been quite kind to Flipper. In particular, his sister and mother are seldom mentioned/seen - even by friends of mine who live nearby in Melbourne. The treatment of Hewitt is less forgiving, tho from the standpoint of many Aussies, Flipper would be the "no-hoper" of the pair.

 

[@wright]

*Marky, the fashion world is calling!*

 

[AndrewD]

Very likely. BTW, strangely enough (given that we don't appreciate non-triers here) the press has been quite kind to Flipper. In particular, his sister and mother are seldom mentioned/seen - even by friends of mine who live nearby in Melbourne. The treatment of Hewitt is less forgiving, tho from the standpoint of many Aussies, Flipper would be the "no-hoper" of the pair.

Yours,

Is that his mother or his step-mother and step-sister you're talking about? I remember seeing them on television a few times and thinking they looked very 'glitzy'. Far different to the family I recall from his days playing pennant and junior tennis.

 

[Tchocky]

Why is Mark called "Scud"? How many wildcards can you get? He's got one thing going for him. He's got a hot, young fiance with money.

 

[adamc637]

Scud serve? Maybe.

Haven't seen him around in a long time.

 

[Mark S. Hogan]

I remember watching him early in his career and telling everyone to bet the house on this kid. He had it all but consistency then. Never progressed much for some reason. Injuries were part of it.

 

[Yours!05]

AndrewD

Yours,

Is that his mother or his step-mother and step-sister you're talking about? I remember seeing them on television a few times and thinking they looked very 'glitzy'. Far different to the family I recall from his days playing pennant and junior tennis.

At a dinner party with friends of Wayne A., from Williamstown, but talk soon turned to Mark. I understood them to be talking about Rosanna and Anna (?) the teacher. She's about 40. Point was the main domicile is no longer in Willy, but a McMansion somewhere - on that side of the city. And Mark has sold his milkbar(?) there too. But a "step-Mom" used to travel with Nick I think.
(Just back from early morning dog walking and as I nodded to the well-known MP doing same, I thought again how lucky we are to live here. There's a kind of "eyes averted" rule at home and outside business hours. Same for Mark - and Bracksey - in Willy.)

 

[Yours!05]

Why is Mark called "Scud"?

Mark and his serve were first noticed around the time of the Gulf War when Scud Missiles were in the news. He doesn't like the nickname.

 

[arosen]

Kind of ironic that after he lost to Fed in Wimby finals(semis?) he said he would be back. As a spectator maybe. Not smart enough for a commentator, so that's not a possibility.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Yours!05, do you actually know Mark P. personaly, what is he like?

 

[Yours!05]

Yours!05, do you actually know Mark P. personaly, what is he like?

No sorry, I don't. Some Aussies here probably knew him in juniors. Maybe they'll reply.

 

[serveBig]

Mark doesnt seem to be too concerned about things... this week he was spotted looking very relaxed and happy at the Boost Mobile pro surf competition in CA. He is close friends with the aussies surfers and taj burrow was his coach for the celebrity surf challenge.

Also mark's parents divorced a few years ago, and nick remarried last year (i think). mark has done a pretty good job of making his personal life private considering so much has happened over his career. I have hardly seen any footage or photos of mark when he was really young, unlike alot of other tennis players. I hope mark can eventually comeback and score a big win so he will do a proper interview and we find out more about his childhood ect..

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

No sorry, I don't. Some Aussies here probably knew him in juniors. Maybe they'll reply.

Oh thats ok, I am not that interested by any means. I was just curious by the way you were talking.

One impression I have of him is he talks the talk about getting in shape and continuing commitment to tennis(when he shows brief blips of commitment and starts to have some success)but does not walk the walk very often.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Early in his career he once said "women can be very dangerous", making it sound like he was going to put off serious chasing until after he hung up his rackets. Doesn't look like that strategy lasted very long.

In his defense, he was up a set and a break on Sampras at Wimbledon (semis?) when his knee blew out. If (and I know 'if a frog had wings...') his knee hadn't gone out, he'd won that match and the crown, who knows how he might have done.

Oh, to be a 6'5" mindless pretty boy...

 

[GotGame?]

I hope he gets his confidence up, and how shocking would it be if he won the Thailand Open knocking out someone like Federer? Whenever this guy is at the top of his game and focused, he is a true talent, but he seems to have Safin type problems.

 

[@wright]

You are right about that, he does have Safin life problems. He doesn't really possess any abilities besides bashing the ball as hard as he can and going up and volleying it away. That's it. If he doesn't get into a rhythm, it can be a very short day at the office.

 

[killer]

It's so easy to say things like "i'm going to do everything I can to get where i want to be" when you're miles away from a court, let alone a match. It takes a ton of effort to get out of negative mentalities that have built up over years, particularly when it comes to matchplay. Practice, practice, practice. He's like a worse version of Karlovic right now.

 

[Cybele]

At the risk of being non PC (as if this ever mattered much here) I don't think Mark's very bright.

He can play tennis, but women, bikes, silly stuff has got in his way. I don't think I can remember one thing that thing guy has said that is quotable.

"I slept with Anna Kournikova" would be about it, really -

and I've a feeling it might have been Pat Cash who actually let that particular cat out of the bag...

Just back from early morning dog walking and as I nodded to the well-known MP doing same, I thought again how lucky we are to live here. There's a kind of "eyes averted" rule at home and outside business hours.

there's a lot of that going on around Hampstead Heath in London, too, but they still often get arrested....

 

[Yours!05]

"I slept with Anna Kournikova" would be about it, really -

and I've a feeling it might have been Pat Cash who actually let that particular cat out of the bag...




there's a lot of that going on around Hampstead Heath in London, too, but they still often get arrested....

Ah I see. Lots of dog walking there too. And you arrest dogs? Somewhat extreme IMO.

 

[AAAA]

He's saying positive things like Guga but with the injuries and surgery they've both had, they are not going to relive past glories. He hasn't made the most of his tennis talent but he has millions in the bank, should be set up for life if he manages his wealth wisely and he's had his pick from some very good crops. His life isn't that bad.

 

[modellooks]

He's saying positive things like Guga but with the injuries and surgery they've both had, they are not going to relive past glories. He hasn't made the most of his tennis talent but he has millions in the bank, should be set up for life if he manages his wealth wisely and he's had his pick from some very good crops. His life isn't that bad.

Pat Cash said that Flip was quite broke. That was about two years ago. Supposedly, he'd blown alot of his cash.

 

[Fee]

and Pat Cash is the most reliable source in tennis, he never says anything just because he might have an ax to grind...

Flip has entered the Calabasas Challenger on October 17th, and he will probably play the Carson Challenger the week after that. We'll see if he's still serious about tennis in a few weeks, I guess.

 

[serveBig]

and Pat Cash is the most reliable source in tennis, he never says anything just because he might have an ax to grind...

Flip has entered the Calabasas Challenger on October 17th, and he will probably play the Carson Challenger the week after that. We'll see if he's still serious about tennis in a few weeks, I guess.

i think the fact he's still playing and now gonna play challengers says he's still serious... he wouldnt go through all the crap and bagging-out all year if he wasnt serious.

as for the money... this year he sold two properties in australia worth 2 million to start investing overseas (probably under the influence of property tycoon and soon to be father in-law, oscar barbara) And he still owns his 2ha beach ranch in florida and homes in melbourne... i dont think he's struggling for cash.

 

[Tenez]

I hope he gets his confidence up, and how shocking would it be if he won the Thailand Open knocking out someone like Federer? Whenever this guy is at the top of his game and focused, he is a true talent, but he seems to have Safin type problems.

It's one thing to have "Safin-type" problems, but quite another thing to have a "Safin-type" game. Flip is not in the same league as Safin, and never was. I cannot imagine Flip, even at the top of his game and focused, ever coming close to troubling Federer. I think the Wimby '03 final pretty comprehensively showed that. Safin is the only one this year who has clearly demonstrated that he has the game to overcome Federer even on surfaces that favor Federer's game (Exhibit A: AO '05 semis, 5 set win on slow hardcourt; Exhibit B: Halle '05 final, close 3 set loss on grass).
--Tenez

 

[urban]

Some real life propblems, if you ever get the nicest and richest girls. Is not his new girlfriend the daughter of one of the richest Americans? And hadn't he affairs with a Australian pop singer and with Paris Hilton? At the outset, Philippoussis looked like a new, bigger Sampras, and fellow Greek Sampras himself felt the same. He always thought of Philippoussis as his natural successor. When he was on, Mark could match the best at their best, especially in 5 set matches. I recall a French Open 1st round 5 setter against Sampras, and a Paris Open 5 setter against a peak Safin. And he won the Davis Cup singlehandedly against France on clay.

 

[Tenez]

... When he was on, Mark could match the best at their best, especially in 5 set matches....

Yes, but his inability to bring it on in every match is underscored by his overall 3-7 and 1-5 records against Sampras and Safin respectively.
--Tenez

 

[spirit]

He can play tennis, but women, bikes, silly stuff has got in his way.

I think you mean women, bikes, AND silly stuff. Maybe bikes can be included in "silly stuff," but we don't want to include women in silly stuff, though some women (just like some men) can be silly sometimes.

Maybe Mark has a career ahead of him on the Senior tour.