[StevoTG]

Well this ain't the most active forum so how about a poll to liven things up.
I wouldn't consider myself to be a big Philippoussis fan, however while some of the tennis fans I know don't seem to have much time for Mark I myself have always wanted him to do well (call me a closet fan I guess) even though there's something about him I dislike. Anyhow the whole point of this thread is to gather some thoughts about Poo's 2008. I reckon he can have a good year and climb the rankings again, how about you guys?

What do you think Mark's peak or finishing position will be next year?

 

[the_natural]

Ive lost faith in him, i will believe again when i see him playing qualifying at the Aussie, win or lose. Cos he hasnt really shown how badly he wants it, hes all talk, and he seems to constantly come up with excuses, he sounds like hes 90 years old talking about how tough it is and how he stiffened up after playing 4 seniors matches, Mcenroe is playing well but the seniors dont play 2 hours matches and thats something that pros do every week.

I thought he was meant to be getting into the best shape of his life or something

 

[flip_fan]

well he's back in australia this week so it will be interesting to see what his plans are... other then partying... I am confident Craig Tiley will not give him a WC without some sort of success.

At this rate I will be shocked if he bothers to play Caloundra and brisbane challengers... and he has never like the idea of the WC play-off. lol, i just don't see how he can expect to play a slam with such little matches... but i'm not even sure he wants to play the Aus open right now... he's been all talk no action for so long.

To be honest I have no idea how 2008 will pan out - i certainly never thought 2007 would be a year of ZERO tennis, a bad reality show, and a ranking of 1105!!!!

Regardless - there never seems to be any dull moments for Mark and I'm sure wether he's playing or not there will be some drama surrounding Mark this summer.

 

[flip_fan]

lol, i was surprised you didn't have retired as an option. If he uses his protection ranking wisely then who knows? Things can improve quickly... but if he stuffs around and gets off to a slow start this year - or god forbid injures himself - he will literally be forced onto the seniors tour or retirement.

 

[Matchu]

well he's back in australia this week so it will be interesting to see what his plans are... other then partying... I am confident Craig Tiley will not give him a WC without some sort of success.

At this rate I will be shocked if he bothers to play Caloundra and brisbane challengers... and he has never like the idea of the WC play-off. lol, i just don't see how he can expect to play a slam with such little matches... but i'm not even sure he wants to play the Aus open right now... he's been all talk no action for so long.

Well if hes back in Australia so early he has to be thinking about playing Caloundra and Kawana (I think?), There is no way he'll play a futures event if theres even any left. I'm not sure how the ranking protection works but I think I read it's used for several events but I'm guessing if you get given a wildcard then you don't use up an event?

In an ideal world Mark would play both Caloundra and Kawana, win a couple of matches there, maybe even win one of them and show Craig Tiley and the rest of Australia he is serious about this and get Wildcards (Qualifying wildcard is more likely I think) into Adelaide, Sydney and the Australian Open and win a few matches at each. By that time he'd hopefully be getting close to his old ranking and he'd use his protection to get into qualifying events for Indian Wells and Miami and from there play a couple of smaller ATP events, then move into the top 100, thats in an ideal world doubt it will happen though.

edit.
Done a bit of research and it's not Kawana its Brisbane I also found out theres another challenger after Brisbane in Tasmania and theres a few points on offer there so Mark's chance to shine. I know this may sound weird but if Mark does enter Brisbane he will be defending points there a first round win would see him defending his points, Does anyone know where the Brisbane Challenger is being played, I want to go, is it being played at Tennyson or what? please I need to know.

 

[flip_fan]

Tennis Australia have enforced the rule Mark MUST play the WC play-off in December to be eligible for a WC into any summer series events and the Australian Open.

He SHOULD be playing the 2 aussie challenger events... i really don't see why not. He's not injured so he has no excuse.

Matchu I don't understand how he'll be defending points when he's never played the Brisbane tournament before???

 

[Matchu]

Tennis Australia have enforced the rule Mark MUST play the WC play-off in December to be eligible for a WC into any summer series events and the Australian Open.

He SHOULD be playing the 2 aussie challenger events... i really don't see why not. He's not injured so he has no excuse.

Matchu I don't understand how he'll be defending points when he's never played the Brisbane tournament before???

What I meant was that week last year Mark played in Maui Challenger in the US and made the second round, so in effect playing in Brisbane he would be defending his only points left of last year.

Found this just before looks like Mark's off to Tasmania.

09 November 2007


Burnie or bust for Scud? Philippoussis's bid for an Australian Open berth could bring him to Coast
By CHLOE HOPE and AARON LAKIN


ON HIS WAY?: Mark Philippoussis may be forced to play in Burnie to keep his Australian Open chances alive. Picture: Getty Images.





STRUGGLING Australian Davis Cup hero Mark Philippoussis could be forced to play at the McDonalds ATP Challenger International in Burnie in early December if he hopes to play at next year's Australian Open.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said there would be a crackdown on who received wild cards to the 2008 grand slam event and those who received a free pass into the Open would have to earn it first.

"Earning a wild card is a privilege not a right," he said.

Philippoussis is on the comeback trail after his career stalled due to a knee injury, which has sidelined him for much of this year.

He is currently ranked 1103 in the world, too low to qualify for the Open's qualifying tournament.

He is eligible for a protected ranking of 112th in the world because of his injury, but is yet to apply for that ranking with the ATP.

Unless he does so soon, the former US Open finalist and hero of Australia's 2003 Davis Cup victory, will be fighting a number of other Australians for a wild card into the Open.

Philippoussis's only option then will be to prove himself on the Challenger circuit, and with entries for the Caloundra Challenger already closed, the Burnie event and another at Brisbane are the only tournaments available to him.

To make matters worse for the 30-year-old reality TV star, he will likely have to go through the qualifiers for the Burnie event, which is the last Challenger before the Open and is likely to attract a large number of top 100 players keen to warm-up for the first grand slam of 2008.

Burnie Challenger co-ordinator Robert Vernon said he would be more than happy to see the big serving "Scud" in Burnie.

"If he did (announce he was coming), we wouldn't say no," he said.

The Burnie Challenger starts on December 1.

 

[flip_fan]

thanks for that... it was confirmed he's got his protected ranking - as if they would make him play qualies for the Burnie event.

 

[the_natural]

Yeh well with all the love he gets from these organisers he better get his a%% into gear, hes had too many things handed too him, even when hes been playing like sh!t, come out and give a half a$$ed attempt at everything like its someone elses fault that he is always injured.

The fans too have been way too kind, i think hes in his own world, he talks about how grateful he is yet he never puts actions to words.

 

[flip_fan]

he's home - been spotted in a gym in melbourne this week, apparently looking good and working on leg weights.

 

[Xristos]

Just to let you guys know I saw Mark at Boutique on Saturday night with a beautiful blond..

I was going to talk to him and ask how things are going but he left.

Hopefully I see him agian soon.

 

[flip_fan]

next time Xristos!!!

I'm sure if he be a regular visitor of Boutique... thanks for the info

 

[Xristos]

No worries, I was going to say how are things, been a fan my whole life etc etc and was going to tell him im trying to turn pro and any advice he could give me.

Hopefully I see him agian soon.

 

[flip_fan]

It has been reported Mark will be back on court today with Darren Cahill in Melbourne. If we get any pics i will post.

 

[Xristos]

Well its raining so maybe tomorow..

Which court?

Melb park?

 

[flip_fan]

yeah, but wouldn't they close the roof of rod laver?

... if not more likely he'd be hitting on the indoor courts

 

[Xristos]

No because there is a concert I think at Rod Laver..

I might go down tomorow and have a look.

 

[christopherhello]

Whens Marks next tournament? Is it a challenger or is it the playoffs?

 

[flip_fan]

not sure yet Chris... Mark seems confident he'll be playing in Adelaide on December 31. Ausstralian Open director will be speaking to Mark this week, so we should find out if Mark will commit to anything else before then.

 

[Xristos]

Is he playing the WC play off in Dec?