Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MEMPHIS, FEB 23: Mark Philippoussis wanted to win the St Jude indoor Tournament, and he wasn8217;t about to let something like Michael Chang8217;s 26th birthday stop him.
The Australian yesterday beat the defending champion 6-3, 6-2 for his fifth career title and first since last June.
8220;It was his birthday, and I didn8217;t want to be the first to give him a birthday present,8221; said Philippoussis, who hadn8217;t beaten Chang in four previous matches. Philippoussis didn8217;t start this year well, losing in the second round of the Australian Open and in the first round at San Jose last week. But helped by harder workouts and a better diet, he came to Memphis ready to play well and win. Philippoussis, seeded fourth and ranked 16th in the world, kept the second-seeded Chang scrambling.
