Philippoussis out of Australian Open, faces surgery

PERTH, Jan 3 (Reuters) Mark Philippoussis has been ruled out of the Australian Open after a scan revealed he tore knee cartilage in his Hopman Cup match in Perth.

The 30-year-old Australian, the world number 114 who would have needed a wildcard to play at the Melbourne Park grand slam, had a scan today and was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus cartilage in his right knee and will require surgery.

Hopman Cup organisers confirmed the injury but were unable to say how long the big-serving Davis Cup player would be out of action.

The former Wimbledon and US Open finalist, who had surgery three times on his left knee between 1999 and 2001, jarred his knee while reaching for a backhand in the fourth game of his match against France's Jerome Haehnel in Perth.

In obvious pain and restricted heavily by the injury, Philippoussis finally called it quits at 1-4 after losing his serve to love in front of a packed house at Burswood Dome.

Haehnel was awarded the match and the mixed doubles ruled a walkover, giving France a 3-0 victory over ths hosts. Nathan Healey, the world number 162, will take Philippoussis's place for Australia's final group match against the US tomorrow.

''He's pretty pessimistic, it's a big setback. He's shattered,'' tournament director Paul McNamee told reporters.

Philippoussis was hoping for a solid performance this week to earn a wildcard for the Australian Open starting on January 15, but will now miss the year's first grand slam in his home town.

He had seen his world ranking slump to 205 in February 2005 after further surgery on his groin but recovered to end 2006 as the number 114 after taking the title at Newport, Rhode Island in July.

It was the third time Philippoussis had withdrawn from the Hopman Cup, the groin problem curtailing his 2005 bid and shin splint soreness forcing him to retire in the 2000 competition, the year after he had won it with Jelena Dokic.

REUTERS SAM HS0939