Newport, RI, USA, 12 July 2015 | tennis.com.au

Mark Philippoussis has gone down in his first tour-level match in nine years, falling in the opening round of qualifying at the ATP Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, Rhode Island.

Philippoussis, who last played competitively at the ATP Challenger event in Dallas in February 2010, contested the qualifying draw at Newport and fell 7-6(1) 7-6(4) to American Eric Quigley.

“It was the first time back after nine years and getting the body back into this pace and movement, it was difficult to get rhythm,” he told atpworldtour.com.

“I had my opportunities at 4-3, serving with the new balls and again in the tiebreak. That’s tennis right there.”

Despite the loss, Philippoussis – a Newport champion in 2006 and a former world No.8 and two-time Grand Slam finalist – ruled out the feasibility of a full-scale comeback to the tour.

“It was just about playing one event. There’s no talk about a comeback. Down the line if I see something, maybe close to California, I might do that. It’s one event and that’s it,” he told atpworldtour.com.

Where Philippoussis faltered in Newport, other Aussies shone.

Matt Ebden, Harry Bourchier, Luke Saville, Andrew Whittington and Alex Bolt all won through to the second of qualifying at the ATP 250-level grasscourt event.

Joining Philippoussis on the sidelines were Matt Reid and Greg Jones.