Philippoussis Hopeful for Australian Open, Rips Aussie Media

Posted on January 6, 2005

Mark Philippoussis says he is not out of the Australian Open yet, despite suffering two tears to his adductor muscle during a match at the Hopman Cup exhibition.

"It's tough to say (how long)," said Flipper, who will go to Melbourne for treatment. "It's something I'll have to go by feel. I'll start treatment as soon as possible and try to strengthen it without tearing it any more."

It is another in a long line of injuries for Philippoussis, who has had multiple surgeries on his left knee and suffered from back and hip problems.

"Like they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger," Philippoussis said. "I know I can come back from this and that's all that matters. It's nothing major. The most important thing is that my knee has come out fine. I have to stay positive and keep my head up. No matter how long it takes I have to do the right thing. It's just the start of the year and there's a long way to go."

Approaching 30, Philippoussis says he still has the drive to compete and win, citing the aging Andre Agassi who won five slam titles after turning 29.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it," Philippoussis said. "I still have goals I want to achieve and I still want to prove to myself how good I can be. I am 28, people say time is running out, but I don't think so. Look at Andre Agassi ... that's an inspiration to me."

Philippoussis also took the opportunity to tear into the Australian media, responding to being under constant scrutiny.

“The scrutiny you're talking about, I don't understand," Flipper shot back. "What happens if I lost the singles out there 6-0, 6-0? So what? I'm going to wake up, I'm going to be happy, I'm going to go out there and train and I'll play another match. If I retire tomorrow, if I don't win a match for the rest of my life, I'm going to be a happy person. I'm happy with my life, I'm healthy, my family's healthy, so what? It's tennis. I really do not see the scrutiny you're talking about and the pressure. There's no pressure at all. There's no pressure at all. That's what other people are talking about."

Asked about a possible retirement, Philippoussis responded angrily.

"The way you guys (media) bring out pressure and scrutiny and, 'Oh, my God, what am I going to do,' it's like so what, who cares? I don't. Do you care? Is it going to affect your life what I do? Will it affect you guys if I retire tomorrow? Maybe. Not for me. I don't really care."