NEWPORT, Rhode Island, 18 July 2006 — Australian Mark Philippoussis swept past Justin Gimelstob 6-3, 7-5 to win the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here on Sunday.
Philippoussis, 29, was a wild card at the event but that didn’t stop the former Wimbledon and US Open finalist registering an 11th career title and his first since Shanghai in 2003, his last appearance in a final.
“Health is No. 1, no matter if you are a tennis player or a businessman or whatever you do,” the Aussie said.
“Getting up in the morning and feeling good is the most important thing. I’m enjoying my tennis, waking up early, playing matches, feeling healthy.” Philippoussis’ game is well suited to grass, as evidenced by his run to the 2003 Wimbledon final, where he lost to Roger Federer.
The Aussie downed third-seeded American Paul Goldstein in the first round, 6-4, 6-2, then dropped just one set in his next four matches as he took advantage of his booming serve, recording 64 aces, including 15 against Gimelstob, who is ranked 111th.
With the win, Philippoussis — who did not drop his serve all week, saving three break points Sunday — improved to 3-1 lifetime against Gimelstob, whom he had not faced since losing in Los Angeles in 2000.
“Fifty-four service games (this week) without a break — that lets you be more aggressive, that obviously helps a great deal,” Philippoussis said. “I got a little negative on a few break points, but I was just aggressive again. You don’t want to get too cocky out there. You lose concentration, and lose a break. I felt like I had good rhythm on my groundstrokes.”
The 29-year-old American Gimelstob had never reached an ATP final in 153 career tournaments before upsetting top seed Andy Murray, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), on Saturday in the semifinals of this $380,000 grasscourt event.
Argentine Qualifier Beats Rochus
In Stuttgart, Germany, qualifier Diego Junqueira of Argentina won his first match in the top-flight of ATP tennis yesterday, defeating Christophe Rochus 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5) at the German Open.
The 25-year-old Junqueira, who plays mainly on the ATP Challenger circuit, faces Filippo Volandri of Italy in the second round.
Junqueira was one of three qualifiers to reach the second round of the tournament. He was joined by American Hugo Armando, who defeated Germany’s Dieter Kindlmann, 6-4, 6-3. Argentine Diego Hartfield held off Robin Vik of the Czech Republic, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
Armando faces second-seeded Tomas Berdych in the second round, and Hartfield plays Nicolas Almagro.
In other results: Florian Mayer beat Andreas Beck, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; Albert Portas defeated Flavio Saretta, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Nicolas Lapentti won over Sebastian Rieschick 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Second-Seeded Frenchman Mathieu Gains at Dutch Open
In Amersfoort, Netherlands, second-seeded Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu beat Alessio de Mauro of Italy 6-0, 6-3 yesterday in the opening round of the Priority Telecom Open.
Seventh-seeded Daniele Bracciali of Italy struggled to a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2 win against Dutch wildcard Igor Sijsling, while Costa Rica’s Juan Antonio Marin defeated Davide Sanguinetti of Italy 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the next round.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic — the only other seeded player in action on the opening day — was to play countryman Boris Pashanski later yesterday.
Argentina’s Edgardo Massa defeated last year’s semifinalist Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3.
Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez is not in Amersfoort to defend his title because “he doesn’t want to play on clay,” an ATP spokeswoman said. Top-seeded Guillermo Coria was drawn to play Dutch wildcard Robin Haase in the first round on today.
Federer Well Clear in ATP Champions Race
Meantime, Bastad champion Tommy Robredo moved three places to seventh in the ATP Champions Race tennis rankings issued yesterday. Wimbledon champion Roger Federer remains top of the rankings with a commanding 282 point lead from Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss player has 1,017 points. Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia is third on 375 points.
ATP top 10 as of July 17 (previous ranking in parenthesis): 1. (1) Roger Federer, Switzerland, 1,017 points; 2. (2) Rafael Nadal, Spain, 735; 3. (3) Ivan Ljubicic, Croatia, 375; 4. (4) David Nalbandian, Argentina, 355; 5. (5) Mario Ancic, Croatia, 318; 6. (6) Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus), 309; 7. (10) Tommy Robredo, Spain, 258. 8. (7) Nicolay Davydenko, Russia, 276; 9. (8) Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, 268; 10. (9) James Blake, United States, 261.
