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I'LL WIN IT ONE DAY, SAYS SCUD

The Herald Sun

By Leo Schlink

5 July 2002

SC

MARK Philippoussis yesterday repeated his prediction he would win Wimbledon at least once.

He also indicated the Davis Cup was not on his agenda in the aftermath of a harrowing fourth-round All-England Club loss to resurrected Dutchman Richard Krajicek.

Clearly shattered after losing 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a match which was spread across 31 hours after being delayed by a day, Philippoussis declared he would return to Wimbledon to make good on the controversial forecast he first aired in Adelaide in January.

"I'm 25 years old," he said. "I've got another six or seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once. I came here, I gave my best. What can you do?

"I want to come back stronger, I'm going to become a better tennis player. When I go home, I'm going to train hard and get ready for the (US) summer. I have plenty of years ahead of me."

Asked whether he had considered playing for Australia in the Davis Cup tie in Adelaide from September 20-22, Philippoussis replied: "No, when is that?"

Told the date, he said: "I have a few other things to think about before that."

Philippoussis is due to have another round of synthetic cartilage injections following the US Open (August 26-September 8).

The procedure takes three weeks, rendering him unavailable for the promotion-relegation tie at Memorial Drive.

Philippoussis claimed he would dwell on his four-hour loss to Krajicek after dominating early and threatening to surge into the quarter-finals and a clash with Belgian Xavier Malisse.

That right is now 1996 champion Krajicek's after the right-hander responded brilliantly when play resumed late on Wednesday afternoon after the pair had been locked at two sets apiece when bad light and rain stopped play the previous night.

Krajicek, aware the Court One marathon had been reduced by the elements to a lung-bursting final sprint, visited the tournament gym with his Australian coach Rohan Goetzke before play and did sprint work on an exercise bike. The preparation was perfect.

"I came sweating on the court," he said. "I knew it was only one set and I was very sharp. He was, I guess, a little bit less sharp than me in the beginning."

Philippoussis declined the opportunity to start play yesterday, preferring to wait for second seed Serena Williams and Daniela Hantuchova to play a quarter-final, although Krajicek was willing to open proceedings.

The fact was Philippoussis should have been waiting to play Malisse. He overwhelmed Krajicek in the first set and a half and held a 5-3 lead deep into the second set, only to be halted by a three-minute break to allow Krajicek to receive treatment on his right hamstring.

The delay signalled a major momentum swing as Philippoussis suddenly lost rhythm on serve. The Victorian also held two break points at 5-all (15-40) in the fourth set, but was unable to convert.

When play resumed at 7.38pm, Philippoussis dropped serve in the first game before Krajicek eased to a 2-0 lead before rain and bad light intervened again.

But at 8.49pm, play was restarted and 21 minutes later the match was over when Philippoussis nudged a backhand long to end a traumatic, draining contest.

"If I would look back on anything in the match, I would look back at me serving for the second set," Philippoussis said. "The whole match was like that.

"I was serving for the second set. I had 15-40 at 5-all in the fourth set. In the fifth set, I came out and I fought as hard as I could.

"I double-faulted once. Besides that double fault, I did nothing wrong. I left a ball which I thought was out. He hit a forehand winner, he hit two backhand winners. What can you do?

"It was his day, he deserved the match."

Philippoussis won 201 to Krajicek's 188 points, served 27 aces to 24, hit 96 unreturned serves to 87 and clubbed 86 winners to the Dutchman's 84.

He was inferior only on return -- completing one service break to Krajicek's two -- but it was enough to usher Krajicek into the last eight after a 20-month lay-off.

The tall serve-volleyer has been a revelation in terms of stamina, but his grasscourt prowess is still apparent.

"After the first and the second round, I was really struggling," he said. "Then I think I got lucky with the rain and also playing third match on Friday. I really had a lot of time to recuperate.

"This is unbelievable. I would never have expected this. I booked my holiday house for today. My wife is already on the holiday house . . . that just shows the trust I had in my ability to reach the second week."

I WILL STILL WIN WIMBLEDON: SCUD

Sports Watch

4 July 2002

SC

Opportunities don't come much bigger than they did this year but Mark Philippoussis is still adamant he will win Wimbledon one day.

The wildcard made a fourth round exit from the 2002 tournament with a place in the final beckoning after Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Marat Safin had all been eliminated from his half of the draw in the second round.

His five set loss to 1996 champion Richard Krajicek came over three rain-affected days and put paid to his bold claim five months ago that he would win the title this year.

But Philippoussis, three times a quarter- finalist at Wimbledon, was still confident it would come his way.

"I'm 25 years old, I've got another six or seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once," said Philippoussis before departing.

The former world No.8 may never be presented with a better chance, though, with Belgian world No.35 Xavier Malisse waiting in the quarter-finals and then a semi against either David Nalbandian or Nicolas Lapentti.

With Lleyton Hewitt or Tim Henman likely to reach the final from the other half, Philippoussis was one of the few players in the last 16 with the serve and volley game to beat both of them on grass.

While fellow Australian Wayne Arthurs admitted he threw away his own best chance when he lost to Nalbandian in the fourth round on Monday, Philippoussis insisted his was not a missed opportunity.

After missing most of last year following his third knee operation, he believed he was still developing as a player.

"I want to come back bigger and stronger. I'm going to become a better tennis player," he said.

"The difference is I'm going out there and playing tougher tennis. In the last few weeks I've lost some tough matches. One or two points that's all it's taken.

"Sooner or later things will start going my way. So I've just got to hang in there, train hard, keep committing myself on the court, keep fighting and it will turn around for me, I know it will."

For all his talk of fighting for each point and concentrating, several mental lapses cost him dearly in his 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 loss to Krajicek.

He served for the second set, had two break points at 5-5 in the fourth yesterday and handed the Dutchman the crucial advantage in today's single set shoot-out with a double fault in the opening game of the fifth set.

The world No.104 served 27 aces to take his tally for the tournament to 108 but it was his serve which let him down.

"If I would look back at anything in the match, I would look back at me serving for the second set," he said.

After wet weather delayed their scheduled Monday start by 24 hours, rain left them stranded on Tuesday night at two sets all.

Five hours of rain and a women's quarter final kept them off court one until 7.38 tonight but 10 minutes later with the Dutchman 2-0 up, they were again forced off by the weather.

Although play was abandoned on every other court, officials kept court one open and they returned at 8.50pm for Krajicek to maintain his edge and become the last man through to the quarters where he was to play 27th seed Xavier Malisse.

Philippoussis said he would prepare for the US Open but hinted he would not be part of Australia's Davis Cup tie against India in September and even had to ask when it was.

"I have a few other things to think about before that," he said.

Philippoussis needed a wildcard when he dropped to a ranking of 140 following his injury but Krajicek has a greater story of survival.

This is the 30-year-old's first tournament in 20 months after knee and elbow surgery and after contemplating retirement at the start of the year, decided to use his injury-protected ranking of 37 to enter Wimbledon.

"Sometimes I was wondering why I wanted to come back, why I was putting myself through this mentally," he said.

He did come back, but didn't expect to last.

"I booked my holiday house for today. My wife is already in the holiday house."

KRAJICEK SHOWS STAYING POWER IN EPIC BATTLE OF ATTRITION

The Times

By Julian Muscat

4 July 2002

SC

A VOCAL Australian contingent duly had its wish when the weather relented sufficiently to allow the fourth-round shoot-out between Mark Philippoussis and Richard Krajicek to reach its protracted conclusion. Those supporters were not to be rewarded, however, as Philippoussis was edged out in an epic encounter by the 1996 champion.

The pair renewed their war of attrition after the cessation of Monday evening, when they had shared four tie-break sets, but Krajicek started like a greyhound from the traps of the neighbouring stadium by breaking his opponent in the opening game of set five. Rain breaks and the overnight suspension meant that it had required six separate sessions to complete the match.

Krajicek’s opening fireworks last night snared the first break in 27 service games and it was to prove conclusive. Having gained the advantage for the first time in the match, the Dutchman was in no mood to relinquish it, winning 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 after just over four hours’ play. Krajicek must now summon the strength for his quarter- final appointment with Xavier Malisse, the conqueror of Greg Rusedski on Tuesday.

Krajieck’s progress this week has been a revelation. He had played a solitary match in 20 months after undergoing surgery to the elbow of his serving arm. His lack of match fitness might have betrayed him in the second round, when he prevailed 11-9 in the deciding set against James Blake; it might have undermined him here. Yet he matched Philippoussis blow for blow until making the breakthrough.

So anxious were both players to finish the match that the final chapter, after another break for rain, commenced at 8.49pm. Many had long since departed No 1 Court as a pair of leviathans locked horns once more.

How Philippoussis will rue his error of judgment on the opening point, when he left a floating service return that dropped just inside the baseline. The mistake was compounded when Krajicek whipped a cross-court pass across his stationary opponent to reach 30-0. Philippoussis responded with an ace, but another blitzed return gave Krajicek two break points.

The Australian saved the first with a service winner, the second with a tentative volley that betrayed his nerves, but the respite was to prove only fleeting. Another searing pass took Krajicek to a threshold that he crossed when Philippoussis double-faulted. It was an inappropriate way for Philippoussis to fall, for he had struck 27 aces.

All through the deciding set, Krajicek’s nerve held firm. It never flinched when he stepped forward to close out the match. An ace afforded him three match points, the first of which he squandered with a double fault. The second he took with a shot that had won him so many points: a winning first serve. For as long as he is alive, Krajicek remains very dangerous.

KRAJICEK SHINES TO SEE OFF PHILIPPOUSSIS WITH LATE BURST

The Times

By Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent

4 July 2002

SC

RICHARD KRAJICEK stood unflinchingly tall in the gathering gloom last night to promise Wimbledon the most remarkable story in a year of remarkable stories. The 30-year-old Dutchman, who considered retirement less than two months ago after a 20-month battle with elbow problems, reached the quarter-finals, defeating Mark Philippoussis, of Australia, 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 in a match that was completed three days later than its supposed climax.

At the end of a rotten ninth day of the 2002 championships — play was stopped and started five times because of showers — the covers were drawn over every court other than No 1, where the two big servers came out once more at 8.50pm. That there was still a crowd spoke volumes for British tolerance.

Krajicek, the 1996 champion, is No 1,093 in the world but earned his place in the draw thanks to a protected ranking of 37. Philippoussis, racked with hurt after three knee operations, should have won the match on Tuesday but stumbled. “I fought as hard as I could,” he said. “If I look back on anything it would be that I served for the second set.”

Krajicek’s wife, the actress, Daphne Deckers, has had enough of this purgatory, leaving for a family holiday in Majorca with their two children that had been planned without thinking that the man of the house might last until the second week. He now plays Xavier Malisse, of Belgium, in the last eight.

Tim Henman also watched the covers being dragged on and off before he was invited on court. He was allowed two stabs at André Sá, in which time he won a set, 6-3. Then it went pitch black again.

The lid had been kept on Henmania until 6pm. It did not seem to bother the man himself given his relaxed chats with interviewers on his way from indoor practice. He was on court for seven minutes at the first time of asking, returning to break Sá in the third game.

What happened in the next was curious, Henman staying back behind three quarters of his first serves, inviting the Brazilian to take over at the net, but he squeaked through, breaking the world No 90 with a handful of breathtaking passes before the gloom sent the pair packing.

KRAJICEK OUTSHOOTS SCUD AS DARK FALLS

abc.net.au

4 July 2002

SC

Dutchman Richard Krajicek won a battle of the patched-up old warriors when he finally overcame Australian wildcard Mark Philippoussis in a fourth-round marathon that stretched over two days.

It was a titanic struggle for the 30-year-old Krajicek, who had been out for 20 months after elbow surgery, and he never dreamed he would get this far at Wimbledon.

As darkness fell on court one, the 1996 Wimbledon champion finally secured an epic 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory that took him into a last-eight encounter against Belgian Xavier Malisse.

"Suddenly I am in the quarter finals and it is unbelievable," said Krajicek, who confessed he would now have to postpone the family holiday he had been planning.

"I would never have expected this. I had booked my holiday house for today. My wife is already at the holiday house. That shows the trust I had in my ability to reach the second week," he told reporters afterwards.

It was more like a penalty shoot out in the World Cup as the big servers battled it out for one last set in the gathering gloom.

Over the match, the Australian - known as Scud for his thundering serve - sent down 27 aces, while his opponent responded with 24 of his own.

With the match evenly poised after the pair had won two tiebreaks each on Tuesday, Krajicek came out fighting in the deciding set.

He broke the towering Australian's serve for only the second time in the whole match and clung tenaciously to that hard fought advantage all the way to the end.

For Philippoussis, it was a bitter disappointment.

He had been confined to a wheelchair after three knee operations that had put his professional career in doubt.

But he had been hoping against hope that fairytales would come true twice in a row at Wimbledon - Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon last year on a wildcard.

"It was tough. What can you do?" he said afterwards, before confirming that his self-belief was as strong as ever.

"I have no doubt in my mind that I am going to win this tournament," he told his post-match press conference.

"I know I can get back," the 25-year-old said. "I have to hang in there and train hard. It will turn around for me. I know it will."

KRAJICEK WINS MARATHON BATTLE

By Mike Sinclair

4 July 2002

SC

Richard Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, on Wednesday night completed his marathon fourth-round battle of the big-servers at 9.12pm to finally overcome Mark Philippoussis and reach the men's singles quarter-finals where he will meet Xavier Malisse.

The Dutchman won a rain-interrupted match, which began on Tuesday afternoon, 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

The pair's first return to Court One after being locked at two-sets all when rain stopped play last night lasted just 11 minutes but in that time Krajicek made the breakthrough which won him the match.

Philippoussis saved the first two break points of the opening game of the fifth set but handed the Dutchman the victory opportunity he gratefully accepted with a double fault on the third break point.

Krajicek recovered from 30-0 down to hold serve and go 2-0 up but was 40-30 down in the third game when it rained again.

When they re-appeared around an hour later Philippoussis needed just one service to hold and, even though he won his next two service games to love and took his tally of aces to 27 for the match and 108 for the tournament, he was unable to crack the Krajicek serve.

The Dutchman upped his own match ace count to 23, reaching 83 so far during Wimbledon 2002, hitting the last one to go 40-0 up in the final game before Philippoussis' Wimbledon ended when he hit the next return long.

Philippousis said: "It was tough for both of us but you have to expect that at Wimbledon. You have to get on when you can get on. It was fine at the end, it was a lot lighter the second time we came back.

"I double-faulted once in the first game of the fifth set for the break but beside that did nothing wrong in the game. If I would look back on anything I would look back on me serving for the second set.

"I'm 25, I'm going to come back stronger and come back a better tennis player. I have plenty of years ahead of me.

"I know I can get back to where I was, I'm playing tougher tennis and in the last few weeks I've lost some tough matches on one or two points. Sooner or later it's going to go my way. It will turn around for me."

Krajicek, who feared he may never play again after 20 months out with an elbow injury, said: "It's unbelievable, I never would have expected this.

"I booked my holiday house for today and my wife is already there. It shows the trust I had to make the second week.

"It was tough with all the delays, the toughest part was the last rain break because it was the first time I was leading in the match and I knew if I served well enough I would win the match.

"I had half an hour to think about it and I was pretty nervous."

SCUD VOWS TO GO ONE BETTER

The Age

By Linda Pearce in London

5 July 2002

SC

Mark Philippoussis still insists he will win Wimbledon, and perhaps more than once, but this year's chance is gone.

The good news for Philippoussis was that he was still playing late on the second Wednesday of the grasscourt grand slam; the bad news was that he lost to Richard Krajicek in the fourth round, at 9.11pm, in five sets, after more than four hours, and through more delays and interruptions than on a bad trip on the London Underground.

By the time it ended, three days after it was scheduled to begin, his thoughts were on a possible surfing holiday in Costa Rica and then the United States hardcourt circuit, but apparently a long way from the Davis Cup qualifying tie against India.

"When is it?" Philippoussis replied, when the September cup subject was raised.

"I have a few other things to think about before that."

Naturally enough, for the disappointment was still fresh, and Wimbledon was the tournament he had said several times would be his.

The circumstances, too, were highly unusual, as it was Friday when Philippoussis won his third round, and Monday when he was scheduled to start his next, but that was held over until Tuesday, and the fifth set not played until Wednesday.

Even then it did not resume until after 7.30pm, with one final postponement still to come.

Eventually, the Australian won the serving competition 27 aces to 24, but lost the match 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to Krajieck, the 1996 Wimbledon champion and sole former titleholder remaining in the men's draw.

"I'm 25 years old. I want to come back stronger," Philippoussis said.

"I'm going to become a better tennis player. When I get home, I'm going to train hard and get ready for the (US) summer. I have plenty of years ahead of me.

"You know, sooner or later, things will start going my way. So I've just got to hang in there, train hard, keep committing myself on the court, keep fighting and it will turn around for me. I know it will.

"I want to keep my head up high. I gave my best. I've got another six, seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time, at least once."

But not this one, not anymore.

Philippoussis had served for a two-sets-to-love lead, only to lose the set in a tiebreak on a double fault, one of 12 for the match.

He also had two break points to lead 6-5 in the fourth set.

In matches such as these, there will always be possibilities, regrets, and opportunities lost, and it was Philippoussis who was left to ponder all three.

1. Possibilities: the fifth set was one of the most important of his career. With the streaky Xavier Malisse waiting in the quarters, and either David Nalbandian or Nicolas Lapentti in the semis, a debut Wimbledon final beckoned. Yet although the Florida-based Victorian has overcome three knee surgeries, he could not get past a veteran who considered retirement just a month ago.

2. Regrets: when given the option, and in contrast to his opponent, Philippoussis elected to follow the women on court on Wednesday to start the fifth set, on the basis that he "wanted a bit of a rest" before resuming against his older, less match-fit opponent. He said later that "if I knew the weather was going to be the way it was, I would have also wanted to go on first". The forecast was never good, and nor was it a secret. Questionable move.

3. Opportunities lost: "If I would look back on anything in the match, I would look back on serving for the second set," Philippoussis said, when asked about turning points. And the first game of the fifth? Besides the double fault (on break point), he claimed to have done nothing wrong. "I left the ball, which I thought was out. He hit a forehand winner. He hit two backhand winners. You know, what can you do?"

Krajicek, clearly, did all that he could.

The 30-year-old, coached by Australian Rohan Goetzke, knew that he needed to come out firing in what had effectively been reduced to a one-set match.

"I went to the gym before, did a few sprints on the bike, because I knew it was only a few points. So I came out sweating on the court," Krajicek said.

"He was, I guess, a little bit less sharp than me in the beginning because, after that, I didn't really have a chance on his serve."

Those few minutes were all it took.

Barely 15 were possible before rain intervened again, but it was enough for the Dutchman.

Philippoussis had lost his serve only once in the previous four sets, but was immediately forced to save two break chances.

When he surrendered the third, also dumped was his best chance at Wimbledon since a knee injury intervened just over one set into his 1999 quarter-final against Pete Sampras.

Yet that is not to undersell the performance of the unseeded Dutchman, whose ranking has been protected since his wrist surgery 20 months ago, but whose official slot is now 1093rd.

Krajiceck had not won a tour singles match from November, 2000, until defeating Franco Squillari here in the first round, followed by James Blake, then Paradorn Srichaphan.

He has bleeding toes, a sore shoulder, tight hamstring, and last night had to back up against a rested Malisse.

Yet anything past the first round was a bonus, and his wife, Daphne Deckers, and two young children are already at the holiday home he booked in the expectation that he would be free during Wimbledon's second week.

His two-year-old son, Alex, has been born since he last played a major.

Philippoussis, meanwhile, was undecided whether to go to Costa Rica with his surfboard and his thoughts, but can be heartened by his recent performances.

He had been unable to win successive tour matches between the Adelaide championships in January and last month's start to the grasscourt season.

And, as late as it was achieved, the Philippoussis result at least helped the tournament get back on course, with all four of the men's quarter-finals able to be played last night, a full day behind schedule.

The crowded Thursday program was to be shared with the women's semis, in which Venus Williams opened against Justine Henin.

Serena Williams, who ended the run of teenager Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-2, was then to play Amelie Mauresmo, who upset Jennifer Capriati in straight sets to record her best grand slam result since the 1999 Australian Open.

LOSS TOOK THREE DAYS, FIVE SETS

The Associated Press

4 July 2002

SC

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Mark Philippoussis needed three days to lose in five sets to 1996 champion Richard Krajicek.

But after coming back from three knee operations, the Australian is optimistic.

``One or two points, that's all it's taken,'' he said after his 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 7-6 (5), 6-4 loss in the fourth round at Wimbledon. ``You know, sooner or later, things will start going my way.

``So I've just got to hang in there, train hard, keep committing myself on the court, keep fighting, and it will turn around for me. I know it will.''

The match was scheduled for Monday but rain pushed it back to Tuesday. Four sets were played before darkness and rain fell and the final set was played late Wednesday after one rain delay.

Krajicek had elbow surgery two years ago that threatened his career. Philippoussis said the Dutchman deserved to win.

Philippoussis is a three-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist.

``I came here, I gave my best,'' he said. ``I'm 25 years old. I've got another six or seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once.''

SCUD VOWS TO RETURN

Foxsports

4 July 2002

SC

LONDON: Mark Philippoussis has shrugged off his disappointment here, vowing to return to the All England Club to clinch the game's biggest prize. After losing his marathon fourth round match against Dutchman Richard Krajicek, the 25-year-old Australian insisted that he still has the game and the time to eventually carve his name on the Wimbledon trophy.

"I am only 25. I want to come back stronger and I am going to become a better tennis player," said Philippoussis after going down 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to the 1996 champion in an epic 4hrs 6mins battle spread over two days.

"When I go home I will train hard and get ready for the rest of the summer. I have plenty of years ahead of me.

"I'm disappointed to lose but I can leave with my head held high. I gave my best but I've got another seven or eight years left in me and I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once."

Philippoussis, who has been a quarter-finalist here three times in his injury-ravaged career, came into the tournament on a wildcard and was hoping to emulate the achievement of 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic who also needed an invitation from the All England Club to take part.

He had knocked out 14th seed Thomas Enqvist of Sweden in the second round as well as dangerous German player Nicolas Kiefer on his way to the last 16.

He had also beaten another big server in the shape of Britain's Greg Rusedski at Queen's on the eve of Wimbledon.

"I have lost some tough matches in the last few weeks and it's been a case of one or two points that's all. Sooner or later, things will start going my way so I just have to hang in there, keep committing myself on the court and keep fighting and it will turn around for me. I know it will."

The statistics of his loss to Krajicek show that there was nothing to choose between the two – Krajicek hit 24 aces to the Australian's 27, 10 double faults to 12, 17 unforced errors to 20 and 57 winners to 55.

But he converted two of his nine break points while Philippoussis took advantage of just one from a possible eight – it was that close.

"I think Richard is one of the favourites for the title now. He can do some damage," added Philippoussis.

PHILIPPOUSSIS KNOCKED OUT OF WIMBLEDON

Tennis Australia

4 July 2002

SC

LONDON, July 3 AAP - Mark Philippoussis's wildcard Wimbledon hopes faded in the dark tonight when he was beaten by Richard Krajicek in their fourth round match which finished 52 hours after it should have started.

Philippoussis finally succumbed to the 1996 champion 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (7-1) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 at 9.11pm. After wet weather forced their scheduled Monday start to be held over until Tuesday, rain left them stranded at two sets all overnight.

When they finally took to court one at 7.38pm today following five hours of rain and a women's quarter-final, Krajicek broke Philippousiss in the first game of the fifth set. Ten minutes later with the Dutchman 2-0 up and Philippoussis 40-30 on serve, rain again forced them off for an hour and threatened to take the match into a fourth day.

Although play was abandoned on every other court, officials kept court one open and, after the rain cleared, they returned at 8.50pm. Philippoussis finished off his service game and had a chance to break at 0-30 and again at 30-30 on Krajicek's next two serves but the 30-year-old held on to take out the match.

It has been a remarkable effort by Krajicek to get this far in his first tournament in 20 months after knee and elbow surgery. At the start of the year, he was considering retirement but decided to enter Wimbledon with his protected ranking of 37 even though he does not have an official ranking because he has been out of the game so long.

He will play Belgian 27th seed Xavier Malisse who yesterday beat Greg Rusedksi after they were also held up overnight at two sets all. The rain meant top seed Lleyton Hewitt didn't begin his quarter-final against Dutchman Sjeng Schalken. Britain's No.4 seed Tim Henman was leading Brazil's Andre Sa 6-3 0-0 when the rain stopped their quarter-final.

PHILIPPOUSSIS SUCCUMBS

4 July 2002

SC

LONDON, July 3 AAP - Mark Philippoussis' wildcard Wimbledon hopes faded in the dark tonight when he was beaten by Richard Krajicek in their fourth round match which finished 52 hours after it should have started.

Philippoussis finally succumbed to the 1996 champion 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 at 9.11pm. After wet weather forced their scheduled Monday start to be held over until yesterday, rain left them stranded at two sets all overnight. When they finally took to court one at 7.38pm today following five hours of rain and a women's quarter final, Krajicek broke Philippoussis in the first game of the fifth set.

The Australian started badly when he let a ball go on the first point only to see it land in and then a forehand cross and backhand return gave Krajicek two break points at 15-40. Philippoussis took the game to deuce but a backhand bullet return put the 25-year-old another break point down and a double fault surrendered the crucial advantage in the single set shoot-out.

Ten minutes later with the Dutchman 2-0 up and Philippoussis 40-30 on serve, rain again forced them off for an hour and threatened to take the match into a fourth day. Although play was abandoned on every other court, officials kept Court One open and, after the rain cleared, they returned at 8.50pm. Philippoussis finished off his service game and had a chance to break at 0-30 and again at 30-30 on Krajicek's next two serves but the 30-year-old held on to take out the match and be the last man into the quarter-finals.

It was a match of missed opportunities for the world No.104 who yesterday served for the second set and had two break points at 5-5 in the fourth. "It was one of those matches that came down to a couple of points," Philippoussis said. "One regret, the double fault, you want to at least make him play a break point. But, what can you do? I came out and fought after that. I had 0-30, he came up with some big serves. It was his day, he deserved the match. I'm disappointed, but I'm going to keep my head up high, go home, take a few days off then train hard."

It has been a remarkable effort by Krajicek to get this far in his first tournament in 20 months after knee and elbow surgery. He will play Belgian 27th seed Xavier Malisse who yesterday beat Greg Rusedksi after they were also held up overnight at two sets all. Top seed Lleyton Hewitt's quarter final match against Sjeng Schalken was postponed until tomorrow.

SCUD GOES DOWN

Sportal

4 July 2002

SC

Mark Philippoussis has been knocked out of Wimbledon by former champion Richard Krajicek after a fourth round match that suffered numerous rain delays over three days.

The rain has also seen Lleyton Hewitt’s quarter final against Dutchman Sjeng Schalken postponed, while fourth seed Tim Henman was leading Brazil's Andre Sa 6-3 0-0 when their quarter final was interrupted.

After the weather forced the scheduled Monday start of the Philippoussis-Krajicek match to be held over until Tuesday, and then their first four sets stretched across the entire day’s play, the Australian wildcard finally fell 4-6 in the fifth set after nine o’clock on Wednesday night (London time).

Krajicek, the 1996 champion, set up a quarter final against Belgian 27th seed Xavier Malisse with the prolonged 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (7-1) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory.

A further five hours of rain delays and a women's quarter final saw the pair finally take to court one at 7:38pm, and Krajicek immediately broke Philippoussis in the first game of the fifth set.

The Australian started badly when he let a ball go on the first point only to see it land in and then a forehand cross and backhand return gave Krajicek two break points at 15-40.

Philippoussis took the game to deuce but a backhand bullet return put the 25-year-old another break point down and a double fault surrendered the crucial advantage in the single set shoot-out.

Ten minutes later with the Dutchman leading 2-0 and Philippoussis 40-30 on serve, rain again forced them off for an hour and threatened to take the match into a fourth day.

Although play was abandoned on every other court, officials kept court one open and, after the rain cleared, they returned at 8:50pm.

After Philippoussis won his service game, he had chances to break back at 0-30 in the fourth game and at 30-30 in the sixth but the Krajicek held on to take out the match.

The loss left Philippoussis to rue his missed chances earlier in the match. He was broken when serving for the second set and also had two break points at 5-5 in the fourth which could have seen him wrap up the match a full day earlier.

"It was one of those matches that came down to a couple of points," Philippoussis said.

"One regret, the double fault, you want to at least make him play a break point.”

"But, what can you do? I came out and fought after that. I had 0-30, he came up with some big serves. It was his day, he deserved the match.”

"I'm disappointed, but I'm going to keep my head up high, go home, take a few days off then train hard."

While the 104th-ranked Australian had a good run after being granted a wildcard, it’s shaping as a fairytale for the 30-year-old Dutchman, who is playing his first tournament in 20 months after knee and elbow surgery nearly forced him to retire.

But at the start of the year he decided to enter Wimbledon with his protected ranking of 37 even though he does not have an official ranking because he has been out of the game so long.

KRAJICEK EDGES OUT PHILIPPOUSSIS

BBC Sport

4 July 2002

SC

Richard Krajicek is through to the quarter-finals of Wimbledon after a marathon five set battle with Australian Mark Philippoussis.

Krajicek finally beat his Australian opponent 6-7 7-6 6-7 7-6 6-4 in a match delayed a day and interrupted four times due to the Wimbledon weather.

After a festival of tie-breaks, the match stood all square at two sets all, with Krajicek, who needed an injury time-out, taking the fourth set before rain halted Tuesday's play.

Another day of bad weather meant that the two unseeded players didn't get on court until late on Wednesday afternoon.

When they finally did appear on Court One to complete the decisive fifth set, Philippoussis was immediately broken for the first time in the match.

Krajicek then held his own serve to open up a 2-0 lead before rain once again stopped played at approximately 1956 BST.

Rain disrupts Wimbledon

After play had been abandoned for the day on all the other courts the pair returned to seek a conclusion in the gloom at 2050 BST.

Philippoussis played the better tennis after the resumption but was unable to make the necessary break of the Krajicek serve and the Dutchman tied up the win after just more than four hours on court.

Afterwards, Krajicek, who has suffered a series of injury setbacks in the past two years, admitted his surprise at reaching the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam he won in 1996.

"I booked my holiday house for today and my wife is already there, so that shows how little confidence I had for the second week," he said.

But Philippoussis bore testimony to the remarkable recovery his opponent has made, tipping the Dutchman to reach Sunday's final.

"Definitely, the way he played. I think he can do some damage and he is definitely favourite."

Krajicek will now play Belgian Xavier Malisse in the last eight.

KRAJICEK PROVES THE SAVIOUR

By John Parsons, Lawn Tennis Correspondent

4 July 2002

SC

Richard Krajicek prevented the men's singles at Wimbledon being thrown into chaos last night but only after officials resorted to desperate measures.

Soggy success: Richard Krajicek finally tipped the scales over Mark Philippoussis at 9.11pm last night.

At 9.11pm, well over an hour after all other matches on court had been abandoned by rain, the 1996 champion struck the service winner which clinched a 6-7, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 win over Mark Philippoussis on Court No 1, allowing tournament referee Alan Mills breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Without that match ending, it would have meant a further delay for the quarter-finals and at least one of the semi-finals having to be staged on Saturday instead of tomorrow. It was by no means the latest that a match at Wimbledon has finished but it is doubtful whether any contest of such significance had ever re-started as late as 8.50pm.

Krajicek and Philippoussis had been kept in the dressing-rooms after all other players had been sent home in what at the time seemed a slim hope that it might still be possible to finish their fourth-round match that should have been played on Monday. In the event, the rain stopped, enabling them to return to court at 8.50 and play for another 21 minutes in what, during the final game in particular, was fast-fading light.

Completion of the one set remaining in that match had become an absolute priority for a tournament which still has a backlog of 134 matches. Having failed to get on to court on Monday, the two big servers were locked at two sets all after four tie-breaks when they had to stop again because of rain on Tuesday. When they finally got back on court with their match still in the balance, they played the first two games of the final set before they had to stop again.

Rohan Goetzke, Krajicek's coach for the past 12 years, had expressed his annoyance when he saw yesterday's Order of Play that the continuation of the match had not been scheduled first on Court No 1 instead of having to wait until Serena Williams had completed victory over Daniela Hantuchova.

Referee Alan Mills, though, was faced with a no-win situation for, while it was essential for the last of the men's fourth-round singles matches to be concluded, he would not have wanted the Williams-Hantuchova match unfinished yesterday because it would have meant postponing one of today's semi-finals until Friday.

PHILIPPOUSSIS ADAMANT HE'LL WIN WIMBLEDON

4 July 2002

SC

Opportunities don't come much bigger than they did this year but Mark Philippoussis is still adamant he will win Wimbledon one day.

The wildcard made a fourth round exit from the 2002 tournament today with a place in the final beckoning after Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Marat Safin had all been eliminated from his half of the draw in the second round.

His five set loss to 1996 champion Richard Krajicek came over three rain-affected days and put paid to his bold claim five months ago that he would win the title this year.

But Philippoussis, three times a quarter- finalist at Wimbledon, was still confident it would come his way. "I'm 25 years old, I've got another six or seven years ahead of me. I have no doubt in my mind that I'm going to win this tournament in that time at least once," said Philippoussis before departing.