Philippoussis Beats Gimelstob for Newport Title
Posted on July 17, 2006Mark Philippoussis proved that he still owns one of the most lethal serves in the game by winning the Campbell's Hall of Fame Championships without dropping serve. In Sunday?s title match in Newport Philippoussis saved all three break points he faced against No. 8 seed Justin Gimelstob during his 6-3, 7-5 win.
"It's different things for different people," Philippoussis said of his serving success. "For me it's the ball toss. When a ball toss is good, I can't miss a serve. I take my time and have a good rhythm. I feel confident serving and volleying. Even on other surfaces I like to come to net like 80 percent of the time on first serves and maybe 50 percent of the time on second serves. I'm a big guy, I like to think I'm intimidating at the net."
Philippoussis faced just eight break points in 54 service games during the tournament and saved them all. The Australian wild card won his first tournament since Shanghai in 2003 and the 11th title of his career.
Philippoussis is the lowest-ranked winner on the ATP circuit this year at No. 214, and converted two of 11 break points and won 83 points overall, compared to 65 for Gimelstob. The Australian improved his career ATP record against Gimelstob to 3-1. He last advanced to the final of an ATP event in September 2003 at Shanghai, where he won the title (d. Novak).
The 29-year-old has played in 22 finals in his 12-year career and has won half of them. His biggest title was the ATP Masters Series event at Indian Wells in 1999 (d. Moya). He is also a Wimbledon and US Open finalist.
Philippoussis' victory Sunday gave him a 51-23 career mark on grass, breaking a tie for sixth place with Andre Agassi for wins on the surface among active players.
Gimelstob, also 29, was playing in the first final of his 11-year career. His record at Newport slipped to 10-10. He reached the quarterfinals there in 1998, 2002 and 2003.
"Winning is more fun than losing but the fans were really supportive," Gimelstob said. "I had a lot of friends and family out there. I had a great week. I didn't feel that defeated. He (Philippoussis) controls a lot that happens out there. He's such a great player. He's a deserving champion. On grass he is one of the best players in the world. His talent is limitless. It's tough to get the ball away from him. I didn't start serving that well and that hurts. The tone was set early."
The American's record fell to 12-14 for this year and 104-154 for his career. He has a 24-31 mark on grass. Gimelstob reached a career-high ranking of No. 63 in April 1999. He came into Newport at No.111.
-- ATP
"It's different things for different people," Philippoussis said of his serving success. "For me it's the ball toss. When a ball toss is good, I can't miss a serve. I take my time and have a good rhythm. I feel confident serving and volleying. Even on other surfaces I like to come to net like 80 percent of the time on first serves and maybe 50 percent of the time on second serves. I'm a big guy, I like to think I'm intimidating at the net."
Philippoussis faced just eight break points in 54 service games during the tournament and saved them all. The Australian wild card won his first tournament since Shanghai in 2003 and the 11th title of his career.
Philippoussis is the lowest-ranked winner on the ATP circuit this year at No. 214, and converted two of 11 break points and won 83 points overall, compared to 65 for Gimelstob. The Australian improved his career ATP record against Gimelstob to 3-1. He last advanced to the final of an ATP event in September 2003 at Shanghai, where he won the title (d. Novak).
The 29-year-old has played in 22 finals in his 12-year career and has won half of them. His biggest title was the ATP Masters Series event at Indian Wells in 1999 (d. Moya). He is also a Wimbledon and US Open finalist.
Philippoussis' victory Sunday gave him a 51-23 career mark on grass, breaking a tie for sixth place with Andre Agassi for wins on the surface among active players.
Gimelstob, also 29, was playing in the first final of his 11-year career. His record at Newport slipped to 10-10. He reached the quarterfinals there in 1998, 2002 and 2003.
"Winning is more fun than losing but the fans were really supportive," Gimelstob said. "I had a lot of friends and family out there. I had a great week. I didn't feel that defeated. He (Philippoussis) controls a lot that happens out there. He's such a great player. He's a deserving champion. On grass he is one of the best players in the world. His talent is limitless. It's tough to get the ball away from him. I didn't start serving that well and that hurts. The tone was set early."
The American's record fell to 12-14 for this year and 104-154 for his career. He has a 24-31 mark on grass. Gimelstob reached a career-high ranking of No. 63 in April 1999. He came into Newport at No.111.
-- ATP