MEMPHIS, FEB 23: Mark Philippoussis wanted to win the St Jude indoor Tournament, and he wasn't about to let something like Michael Chang'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.
``It was his birthday, and I didn't want to be the first to give him a birthday present,'' said Philippoussis, who hadn't beaten Chang in four previous matches. Philippoussis didn'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.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
