Injury has plagued the past few years for Mark Philippoussis – the veteran Aussie has played just one event – a Challenger in Dallas – since breaking down with a knee injury during the Australian Open 2008 Wildcard Play-off. Mark had already had surgery on the damaged lateral meniscus of his right knee and sat out the entire 2007 season. Reinjuring this knee cartilage forced him to submit to a fifth bout of surgery keeping him out of tennis for a prolonged period of time.

Mark has a distinguished record on the singles court, reaching the final of the US Open in 1998, where he lost to Pat Rafter. In 1999 he moved inside the top 10 for the first time and helped Australia to win the Davis Cup final with a steely performance on clay in Nice.

In 2003 he reached the final of Wimbledon, losing to Roger Federer. He also pulled off a miraculous five-set win against world No.3 Juan Carlos Ferrero to seal Australia’s victory over Spain in that year’s Davis Cup final. In 2006, after further injury woes, Mark again proved his credentials, winning his eleventh ATP Tour title on grass in Newport.

He has represented Australia three times at the Olympic Games, in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004). A tennis player since the age of six, Mark was introduced to the game by his father, Nick, a former banker and soccer goalkeeper.