Australian Open ace had to ask friends to buy food amid money troubles | Tennis | Sport
Former tennis star Mark Philippoussis opened up about the financial struggles he faced after injuries took their toll on his successful career. Philippoussis reached two Grand Slam finals but later had to rely on others to buy him food after multiple surgeries derailed his sporting dreams.
The 49-year-old from Melbourne reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on four occasions. Philippoussis won 11 singles titles, including his 1999 Indian Wells victory, peaking at No. 8 in the world rankings. His Grand Slam highlights included reaching the 1998 US Open final and the 2003 Wimbledon final. However, just six years after facing Roger Federer at SW19, the Australian could barely afford to buy food for his family. Philippoussis had already undergone three knee surgeries by the time he met Federer at the All England Club, losing a final now best remembered as the Swiss icon’s first of 20 Grand Slam wins. Three more knee operations would follow over the next six years for Philippoussis as his performances dipped, resulting in lower earnings.
In 2009, during his latest spell on the sidelines, Philippoussis struggled to provide for his loved ones. In an appearance on the TV show SAS Australia in 2021, more than a decade later, he revealed the true extent of the financial hardship.
“I was out for a few months. I couldn’t afford much, actually,” Philippoussis recalled. “I had to ask friends just to shop for food.
“We would always, just, for seven days in a row we’d have this cabbage pasta that ends up being one of my favourites but my mum calls it ‘poor people’s food’ because it’s so simple, it’s just cabbage with some spices and pasta.
“I felt very much ashamed because they gave their dream for me and my responsibility was to look after them. I was in a dark place and had depression. There’s no greater pain in my heart than watching my loved ones suffer because of my actions.”
The two-time Grand Slam finalist played his last match in 2015, having earned £5.2million ($6.9m) in prize money across his career. Philippoussis explained why he had previously refused to financially plan for the future, despite his persistent injury issues.
He said: “When you’re an athlete, the last thing you want to think about… They always say, ‘Save for a rainy day.’ And I feel like you’re weak if you feel like you might get injured and you have to have something to back up to — that’s a sign of weakness.
“You can’t think that way because you’ve got to keep going, you’ve got to get back from injuries and you’re going to be OK.”
Fortunately, Philippoussis was later able to get his life back on track and became a tennis coach, previously working with Stefanos Tsitsipas, as well as getting roles as a broadcaster.
