WIMBLEDON
Date: 2003-06-26

WIMBLEDON

June 26, 2003

Mark Philippoussis
WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND
MODERATOR: Good evening, Mark Philippoussis.

Question Can you tell us a little bit about the match. You said it made you even more hungry to play on the outside courts. Is that still the case?
Mark Philippoussis Yeah. Obviously, it doesn't worry me what court I play on. This is still Wimbledon, I'm still in the tournament. So for me, you know, I'm just happy to get out there. You know, it's always been my dream to play here as a kid, so it's just a great feeling every time you get out on the court, no matter what court you're playing on.

Question Do you believe today was a good step up from your first round?
Mark Philippoussis Yeah. I'm happy. I think today I was a lot more solid than yesterday. I felt good on the serve and volleying and on the groundstrokes. I kind of lost my concentration a little in the third when I was up a break, you know, with a double-fault, like an easy missed forehand. Besides that, the guy played some good points. I was pretty happy.

Question The stats showed only 13 unforced errors. When is the last time you made that few?
Mark Philippoussis Like I said, I feel like every match I'm playing, I'm getting better. My rhythm's getting better. I'm not rushing as much. I'm setting up the points better. You know, I'm not sure when the last time I made those unforced errors. Like I said, it felt pretty good.

Question You got through the first couple. That can be difficult sometimes. With each win, does it get harder to maintain that match-by-match focus? Do you start to look ahead more?
Mark Philippoussis I honestly think, if anything, it gets easier. I honestly think the first week is the toughest week to get through, the first couple matches. I feel like every match, you know, I get through, game comes together a little better, your strokes get better, you know, the rhythm on the serve and volley gets a little better. So, you know, I think things start coming together a lot more, with each match you play.

Question You still have to weave your way through the draw.
Mark Philippoussis Don't tell me who I play. I don't want you to say anything.

Question The fact that Pete Sampras is not here, is there a little part in the back of your brain that says somehow this might be easier for you with Pete Sampras not at Wimbledon?
Mark Philippoussis Well, obviously, I mean, he's huge - coming here is so dangerous, no matter what surface he plays on, but especially Wimbledon, winning it I don't know how many times, six times or something. Obviously, it's nice not to see his name in the draw, there's no doubt about that. So, you know... But the thing is, there's still no easy matches out there. No matter who you play, it's always going to be tough.

Question Does it give you some sense that you have a better chance of winning here just because he's not here?
Mark Philippoussis I don't know if I think that way, to be quite honest. There's so many tough players here. There's no way I'll be thinking like that. Like I said, obviously it's nicer when you don't see him in a draw.

Question Can you compare the way you're playing now and the way you just generally play to the way you were playing four years ago when everyone thought you had that great chance, then you got hurt? Is it possible to compare your game to now and then?
Mark Philippoussis No. I mean, I really can't remember. I remember hitting the ball great, you know, feeling good. You know, I don't know. I can't really compare the difference. I can't remember that much.

Question Do you think you would have won the tournament that year?
Mark Philippoussis It's so tough to say. You'd never know if I would have won another set. Who knows if I would have won the match. You can never say what could have happened.

Question What are your thoughts on the next round?
Mark Philippoussis You know, it's going to be a tough match. Scotty is a very talented player. He can play some great tennis. He can be a little loose. Then you have Stepanek, who is solid all the way around. The guy can serve and volley because he's played some great doubles. Guy has had some good results in doubles. You know he can serve and volley. He's got great groundstrokes. They're both dangerous. You know, it's something I'm looking forward to. Again, I just got to go out there and play my own game and focus on that.

Question You said you're not going to look too far ahead. The way you played today, does it tempt you to think you can go a fair way here?
Mark Philippoussis No. I mean, I'm only thinking about the match I'm playing. Now I'm thinking about the next round. That's where my mind is. Tomorrow I'm just going to have an easy hit, relax. Saturday, when that day comes, I'll think about the match. Nothing further than that.

Question Is this the one tournament where if you're on with your serve-and-volley game, it really doesn't matter who you play because you're going to be dictating the points? It almost doesn't matter who is on the other side if your game is there?
Mark Philippoussis I mean, that's how I feel, especially on a surface like this. I mean, you know, a grass court, obviously you would think would favor a serve and volleyer. If someone is serving huge, volleying good, playing solid, there's not much you can do. You have to concentrate on your service games. The great thing is if you're serving big, you're confident in your service games, you're winning them comfortably; when you do return you have that opportunity to take some chances and step it up, whether it be chip-and-charging, trying to go for some winners. That tends to put some pressure on the other person.

Question The tiebreak at this tournament seems more important than it does at other tournaments because there are so many sets between big-hitting players. Do you prepare for a tiebreak in any special way? Do you have any philosophy?
Mark Philippoussis No. I mean, I've always been aggressive in tiebreakers. I mean, the thing is, you don't want to get to a tiebreaker, when you get there, step back and say, "Just make him play," get on the back foot. Obviously, it's extremely important. You want to, you know, make the guy play. You want to do all this. But, again, it's tough, because you don't want to, you know, step away from your game, which is being aggressive, so...

Question Do you think the courts are less slick now than they were back in '99 when you were playing so well?
Mark Philippoussis I definitely think the courts are a little slower.

Question So you have to play more from the baseline?
Mark Philippoussis Well, I won't be doing that (smiling). I guess some people -- you know, the guys who are doing that I think can get away with a little more now than what they could have in the past. That's what I think.

Question When you're serving in a tiebreak, do you just figure you're going to take a whack at the serve because the chances are, if he gets a good serve, he's going to get the point anyway, so take a whack at it?
Mark Philippoussis I wouldn't say that, because every point in a tiebreak is so important. You know, it's not like in the service games, you're down 40-Love, you can take a whack at it. But every point is so important in a tiebreaker, you want to make him play but, again, be aggressive. You know, if you feel confidence in your hitting range, give it a whack, but nothing crazy. Be aggressive, but still try to get the ball in.

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