Gambill arrives but Philippoussis pulls out

PERTH, DEC. 28. After a last-minute team injury pullout 12 months ago from the $550,000 Hopman Cup mixed event, at least the male half of the American squad of Monica Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill was safely on the ground on Thursday in Perth.

``I'm fit and feeling fine,'' said Wimbledon quarterfinalist Gambill prior to a practice session accompanied by his father and brother at the Borswood Dome.

Gambill ended his 2000 season last month in Stockholm, withdrawing with back pains and has spent time resting at home in Washington State. While Gambill is already hard at work, he obviously took time out for his growing Jaguar car collection over the holidays. And the tall American always has his eye on a new acquisition.

That sort of high-income pleasure will be denied to Australian Mark Philippoussis under a pact made with new coach Peter McNamara. Philippoussis later pulled out of the tournament according to the organisers. The reasons for his withdrawal - believed to be an injury - were to be given at a media conference they said. A replacement had not been named, organisers said.

Until he wins a Grand Slam, the car-and-moto-mad 24- year-old is informally banned from buying any more machinery. ``Cars are out. No more cars. He's not allowed to buy a car unless he wins a Grand Slam, that's the deal we have,'' McNamara said.

Philippoussis has been an avid collector and user of sports cars, perhaps to the detriment of his game. The Ferrari- and- Lamborghini owner did play the 1998 U.S. Open finale, losing to compatriot Patrick Rafter.

Philippoussis has at one time or another owned 20 exotic cars and a number of motorbikes.

Earlier in the day McNamara had said he believed the former US Open runner-up was in top shape for the nine-nation cup contest.

McNamara said he was confident of big things from his 24-year-old protege, who would have teamed up with 27-year-old Nicole Pratt.

Australia is one of the unseeded teams, but McNamara expected Philippoussis, with a world ranking of 13th, to be in top form at the tournament. Pratt is 53rd in women's singles rankings.

``Mark is pretty fit,'' McNamara said. ``He's lost a fair bit of weight. He's down to about 92 kilos, which is a lot from where he was at the US Open when he was 100 kilos and the reason he wasn't playing so well.

``I expect big things of Mark at the Hopman Cup. I think he's in the best shape he's been in for a while - touch wood, there's no injuries.

``He's hitting the ball as well as I've ever seen him hit it. I think he's got to be pretty confident with the way he's going to go into the contest.''

McNamara said the tournament would allow him to gauge Philippoussis' form and physical condition in the lead-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne from January 15.

``I'm very pleased with the way he is. He's got his own motivation back, he's running every morning, he's working out, he's practising,'' McNamara said.

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