Scud rejects Cash

[Donny]

Scud flips it with Cash

by Leo Schlink - Fox

THE simmering feud between Mark Philippoussis and Pat Cash exploded yesterday, with Philippoussis furiously reprimanding his former coach during an angry telephone conversation.

Philippoussis was enraged by Cash's comments after his listless fourth-round Australian Open loss to Hicham Arazi. Cash said the world No. 10 was more interested in singer Delta Goodrem than the Open.

Philippoussis confronted 1987 Wimbledon champion Cash to express his disgust yesterday in the second serious fallout between the pair.

Cash, who could not be contacted last night, had implied Philippoussis's socialising had played a key role in his loss to Arazi.

"It looked like he was up all night doing whatever . . . getting busy," Cash said, alluding to Philippoussis's highly publicised friendship with Goodrem.

"He tries to stay pretty focused on the court . . . it's the stuff off the court that's proving distracting for him."

Word of Philippoussis's call to Cash spread quickly around Melbourne Park, where tensions are believed to have also surfaced between Philippoussis and Davis Cup teammate Todd Woodbridge.

Woodbridge, who has been working with Philippoussis this season, questioned the Scud's commitment in the wake of his straight-sets loss to Arazi. It is understood Woodbridge told Philippoussis his comments had been taken out of context as the Davis Cup squad prepared to gather in Adelaide ahead of its first-round tie with Sweden next week.

Lleyton Hewitt, whose service action was queried by Cash after his loss to Roger Federer on a dismal Australia Day, met Philippoussis yesterday to offer his support.

Despite fears Philippoussis might withdraw his Davis Cup services, Australian captain John Fitzgerald said there were no lingering ill feelings in a team that won the Davis Cup eight weeks ago.

"Wally (Masur) spoke to Mark. I've talked to everyone and everyone is fine," Fitzgerald said.

"We are all grown men and we have to understand some times things are taken out of context.

"Everyone is very happy and stable."

Cash and Philippoussis have been at loggerheads since the pair split in 2000 after an 18-month partnership which peaked with Philippoussis's appearance in the 1998 US Open final.

Cash attacked Philippoussis in his book Uncovered, portraying his former charge as an "uncommitted player whose passion for partying was stronger than his desire to practise".

Cash said Philippoussis had tried to visit a strip club in New York on the eve of the US Open semi-finals. He also revealed he had to convince Philippoussis that spending the night before grand slam matches with glamorous Russian Anna Kournikova was not an ideal preparation.

Cash described Philippoussis as "one of the most uncommitted people to rise to prominence in sport".

Cash said Philippoussis was "the most talented player – next to John McEnroe – I've ever seen, but also one of the laziest players I've known".

The pair are believed to have disagreed over financial issues, which led to Philippoussis reappointing Peter McNamara as his coach.

McNamara and Philippoussis split last year, paving the way for Mark's father Nick to take sole control.

Philippoussis was ostracised by his Davis Cup teammates after making himself unavailable for a first-round tie against Zimbabwe in 1997.

The rift healed in '99 when Philippoussis returned to the team, leading it to spectacular victory against France in Nice.

He was then again on the outer in 2000, when he was not selected for the losing final against Spain in Barcelona.

But since Pat Rafter, Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle's retirement, Philippoussis has been an integral part of the Australian team, hence the anxiety over Woodbridge's remarks on Tuesday.

[Donny]

Delta fury at jibe

By Luke Dennehy - Fox

DELTA GOODREM and Mark Philippoussis are furious at suggestions their budding romance is the cause of his Australian Open loss.

The pop star has told friends she is "very upset" by remarks from Pat Cash and others, insinuating she kept the tennis champion up all night.

A source close to the Goodrem family told The Daily Telegraph the singer was not even staying at the same hotel as Philippoussis and "She is very hurt and found the comments disrespectful," the friend said.

"She is not that kind of girl. She just wanted to come to the tennis to have fun, get out of the house and support a friend."

[JLC]

The funny thing is that Cash wasnt much of a tennis player himself. Cash was a party animal, injury prone and the only real tournament he won was Wimbledon but then again he only beat Lendl who was useless on grass.

However i think Scud still has a carry over from his younger days when he was a party animal and there is a perceived "playboy attitude" when he is seen with woman at the tennis. Whether this is the case or not is another matter.

The big loser is the tennis public as we have not seen the best of Scud yet or at least not on a consistent basis. I remember when Scud in hisy ounger days played Edberg at the Australian Open and played one hell of a match and at that stage he looked like being a champion.

There is still hope as Goran Ivanisevic won a belated grand slam at the end of his career.

jlc

[Donny]

Cash defends Scud comments

Fox

FORMER Wimbledon champion Pat Cash says he's never experienced abuse and threats like those he received from Mark Philippoussis as their feud boiled over at the Australian Open this week.

Cash and Philippoussis' Davis Cup teammate Todd Woodbridge were both critical of the Scud after he lost to Morocco's Hicham Arazi on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

While Woodbridge said Philippoussis had always been content to give "70 per cent" on the court, Cash suggested Philippoussis's social activities had distracted him, saying: "It looked like he had been up all night doing whatever ... getting busy."

Philippoussis, whose friendship with Australian singer Delta Goodrem sparked a publicity frenzy during the Open, angrily telephoned Cash after learning of the comments.

"I've been in arguments and fights, having been through a divorce, but I've never, ever been abused and threatened like I was yesterday on the telephone," Cash told Channel Nine tonight.

"As a member of the media and as an ex-player, I think it's completely out of order. I won't accept that behaviour from anybody. I don't appreciate what happened. It's my right to make a comment on what I see on the tennis court.

"It's my job as a tennis pundit, or tennis reporter, to comment on what I see on the tennis court. I think what I say is fair, it's always fair."

Cash, a former coach of Philippoussis who described him in his autobiography as uncommitted and lazy, said he made no direct reference to Goodrem in his widely-publicised remarks.

"I've got no interest in Delta or Mark or whatever ... if Mark's got a girlfriend or doesn't have a girlfriend, it's got no interest whatsoever to me," said Cash.

"It was never my intention to make that insinuation (about Philippoussis and Goodrem). I have no idea about Mark's private life, not the faintest. I never mentioned Delta's name at all, it's got nothing to do with Delta at all."

Cash, having also come under fire for criticising Lleyton Hewitt's serve this week, said he felt "absolutely" safe to go back into the locker room at the Australian Open.

Asked if it was safe to approach Philippoussis, he said: "Unfortunately, that I'm not sure (of)."

Cash said Australia's highest-ranked singles player had the ability to be the best player in the world.

"There are plenty of people out there who see the talent Mark Philippoussis has got – we all know he should be the No.1 player in the world," said Cash.

"The one clear thing we've all instilled in him is `hey, you've got to work a little harder`. If you really want to be No.1, you've got to work a bit harder.

"When I was playing the circuit I was absolutely 100 per cent dedicated. I don't think there was a player out there who worked harder than me.

"I didn't have the talent that Mark Philippoussis had, the physical ability, but I worked hard and I got somewhere.

"That's a very frustrating thing, when you see someone as talented as Mark and you want to help him ... he's had some great results but you know he can go a little bit further."

Philippoussis reached the 1998 US Open final when Cash was his coach, losing to Pat Rafter. He also made last year's Wimbledon decider but succumbed to Roger Federer.

Cash won Wimbledon in 1987.

[Blanch]

Cash you idiot. You always had you ego blinding you. Of course you have the right to comment on whatever you wish. You are Pat Cash - "the greatest wimbledon champion of all time." Let's get one thing straight. John McEnroe is one of (if not the) best players the game has seen. Pat Cash won wimbledon once and good on him but as far as potential goes he had it and never used it. The two names shouldn't appear in the same sentence.

To come out and suggest he was the player who worked hardest etc...what a load of rubbish. Cash has a huge chip on his shoulder...he has the mental age of a 4 year old.

What Cash fails to see here is the context. He doesn't have a relationship with many players so he can comment on them. He DOES have a relationship with the Poo based on being his ex coach. He openly bags the poo in his book. They have history therefore comments made seem to be from an "insiders" point of view. WAKE UP PAT!!! Making comments on the poo is not the same as making comments on other players - any adult with a brain can see that.

Still seething over getting sacked are we you never has been Cash.

[Blanch]

Where's the credibility in having a crack at Federer for not having a coach? Federer gave the reply he should have saying "I don't think I know who Pat Cash is and I doubt he knows me personally so that comment means nothing to me."

The poo wasn't in a position to dismiss Cash as they had a coach/player relationship. It's perceived as Cash being "in the know." He can discredit the scud and be believed somewhat because of the relationship that existed. That is why the poo had to put him in his place.

btw, cash had more talent that anyone....dont' give me this hardworking rubbish. He had the best backhand in the world during his peak but there were days when ....and I quote "he was on his (fill in the blank)." - all class Cash, good to see some things haven't changed.

If we are going to talk about injuries, yeah Cash had them and worked to get over them but NEVER did. The poo's injuries have been well documented - being a set up at the US open against Sampras when Sampras was at his peak and then doing a knee....I'll remind everyone that the scud HAS come back...top 10 in the world in fact. That's hard work for you Cash.

[Blanch]

Grand Slams do mean a lot- agreed but they are not everything. That would make Roy Emerson the greatest tennis player in history. That's a pretty big call.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the scud is the best in the world....just saying people should give him a break. Cash is wrong about him having the most talent and "should be no.1." He doesn't move as well as the other guys his size, he never will have the sideways court movement (and more importantly the forward/back movement) as guys like federer and safin. Cash's expectation of the poo are too high. He's worked hard with the game he's got.

Look at the best players in the world....mostly counterpunchers who have learned an attacking style. The poo cannot counterpunch. The others can when they are in trouble. He is all attack or nothing - very difficult to prevail against a good counterpuncher. The others have strings in their bow that the poo will never have. Why doesn't the poo counterpunch...why didn't he ever learn. It's because it's not in him...like why doesn't McEnroe serve with a half normal action or why doesn't borg play with 1 handed backhand? The poo developed a game that worked for him as a junior and he's adapted his style to the best of his ability...and no9 in the world aint that bad.