SAS Australia: Mark Philippoussis reveals ‘ridiculous’ lifestyle

Australian tennis icon Mark Philippoussis has revealed the “ridiculous” lifestyle he loved on the top of his skilled profession.Mark Philippoussis loved forking out on the finer issues in life throughout his profession however now he appears to be like again and thinks: “Why?”The Aussie tennis icon achieved some severely spectacular feats on the courtroom however lived a unique lifestyle to the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter.Watch Tennis Live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. Live Coverage of ATP + WTA Tour Tournaments together with Every Finals Match. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >While Hewitt was obsessive about tennis on a regular basis, Philippoussis embraced the significance of switching off and appreciated getting away from the grind of the skilled tour every time he might.During Monday night time’s episode of SAS Australia, Philippoussis was pulled apart by one of many directing workers who questioned why he lacks aggression — main the 44-year-old to open up on the distractions and emotions of vacancy he skilled whereas taking part in tennis on the high degree.In 2003 Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon last, gained the Davis Cup with Australia and achieved a career-best world rankings of No. 8. Yet someway, he didn’t have a clothes contract.Rather than use that as motivation to climb even increased, the aggressive flame died out.“After my third knee surgical procedure … I used to be in a wheelchair for 3 months and crutches for a few months they usually stated I’ll by no means play skilled tennis once more,” Philippoussis stated.“That drove me – I got here again and had my strongest 12 months.“I simply had the perfect 12 months. I simply gained Davis Cup for the second time – how can I not have a clothes contract?“My thought was, ‘F**ok you’. But as a substitute of claiming, ‘F**ok you’, I went the alternative and my ardour withered. I simply felt crushed up. “And I knew what it’d take and I assumed, ‘Do I wanna be there once more?’ And I didn’t.”When the need dimmed, Philippoussis tried to fill the void in different methods.“I used to be (shopping for new) automobiles as a result of I’d get bored. Or I’d watch this new film Bad Boys (and see) they received the brand new Porsche turbo, and also you’d name up your agent to seek out me the brand new Porsche turbo,” he stated. “That’s how ridiculous it was. “So, the prize cash doesn’t make you happier nevertheless it finally ends up changing into the brand new norm.“Sometimes now I simply shake my head and snigger and assume, ‘What an fool’.”Philippoussis opened up on his lavish spending habits in a podcast with sportscaster Mark Howard final 12 months, the place the unashamed revhead stated he would undergo a brand new automobile as usually as some individuals mow their garden, proudly owning all the things from Mercedes to Bentleys, in addition to “quite a few Lamborghinis and a bunch of Ferraris”. Not to say about 15 motorbikes.“I’d get bored. I’m not exaggerating once I say I’d simply undergo one automobile a month and simply change it,” Philippoussis instructed The Howie Games.“I by no means saved it as a result of it by no means made me blissful, I used to be simply bored.”Then there was the time Philippoussis paid $100,000 on a whim for a model new Dodge Viper as a result of he didn’t wish to get a taxi residence, solely to promote it the very subsequent day — which he admitted was a “tousled story”.“You can snigger, as a result of it’s ridiculous,” Philippoussis stated.After being inspired to rediscover his aggression on SAS and channel it into one thing significant, Philippoussis took motion. As all of the movie star contestants had been pitted towards one another in boxing matches, the tennis star left musician Pete Murray somewhat worse for put on. He knocked Murray to the bottom with a strong punch and the singer-songwriter needed to pull out with a dislocated elbow.

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