Philippoussis out of Aus Open

Perth:

Former US Open and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis said on Wednesday he requires right knee surgery after tearing cartilage during a Hopman Cup match. Philippoussis had to retire Tuesday while trailing 4-1 in the first set against Jerome Haehnel of France. After arriving at a Perth hospital in a wheelchair Wednesday morning, an MRI scan showed Philippoussis has torn the lateral meniscus cartilage in his right knee. The injury to the shock-absorbing cartilage in the knee rules the 30-year-old Australian player out of a potential wild card entry into the Australian Open beginning January 15 in Melbourne. Philippoussis, who lost the US Open final in 1998 to fellow Australian Patrick Rafter and lost the 2003 Wimbledon final to Roger Federer, has had surgery on his left knee on three previous occasions. Philippoussis had a resurgence in the rankings in the latter half of 2006, jumping 100 spots to No 114 after falling to his lowest mark since he joined the tour in 1995. He was hoping for a strong 2007 after spending the offseason in Las Vegas training with Andre Agassi's former fitness adviser Gil Reyes.