Mark Philippoussis remained undefeated for 2016 on the PowerShares Series Sunday winning his fourth title of the year beating Andy Roddick 6-3 in the one-set championship match at the PowerShares Legends Winston-Salem.
Played in conjunction with the ATP World Tour’s Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina, the PowerShares Legends Winston-Salem is the fourth title in as many appearances this year for Philippoussis on the North American tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30.
“The most important thing for me is being on the court and not having pain,” said Philippoussis, whose ATP career was highlighted with runner-up showings at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, but also numerous knee surgeries. “Winning matches is a bonus. I am very thankful to be part of the beautiful and amazing PowerShares Series and getting on the court and playing a sport that I love and not waking up and being in pain like I was.”
In April, Philippoussis won PowerShares Series titles on back-to-back nights indoors in Tulsa and Memphis, beating Jim Courier in both finals, while also winning on the grass courts of Newport, R.I. in July, beating Marat Safin in the final.
Against Roddick in Winston-Salem, Philippoussis served at speeds in the 120s and 130s through the humid conditions while breaking Roddick’s serve twice in the final-round match.
“It was very surprising,” said Philippoussis of Roddick’s serving troubles. “The first game, (he served) a couple of double faults. Watching him warm up, I’m thinking ‘Oh God, he is serving huge.’ He lost some rhythm. That is very unlike him but I took advantage of that.”
To advance into the final, Philippoussis beat Roddick’s former U.S. Davis Cup teammate James Blake 7-6 (5). Roddick beat current U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier 6-4 to reach the final. Philippoussis was a late addition to the Winston-Salem field after Mardy Fish was forced to withdraw due to injury.
The win in Winston-Salem marked the Australian’s eighth career PowerShares Series title and extends his lead over Roddick in the 2016 PowerShares Series rankings. Philippoussis earned 400 points for his win to move to 1600 points for the year through seven events, 500 points ahead of Roddick with 1100 points. Blake ranks No. 3 with 700 points.
Each PowerShares Series event features two one-set semifinal matches and a one-set championship match and, for the second straight year, players make their own line calls with assistance of electronic line-calling.
The remaining 2016 PowerShares Series schedule with player fields are listed below and ticket, schedule and player information can be found at www.PowerSharesSeries.com;
August 25, 26 – New Haven (Yale University) – Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, James Blake, Mark Philippoussis
October 27 – Los Angeles (Sherwood Tennis Club) – Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake, Mark Philippoussis
November 4 – Portland, Oregon (Moda Center) – Andy Roddick, John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Mark Philippoussis
December 1 – Orlando (Amway Arena) – Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
December 3 – New York (Barclays Center) – Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, James Blake
In 2015, Andy Roddick won the PowerShares Series points title in his second year of competing on the series with 1,600 points. Roddick won a record eight events Los Angeles, Lincoln, Chicago, Austin, Little Rock, Dallas, Richmond and Minneapolis. Blake finished second in the points rankings with 1,200 points, winning events in Boston and Cincinnati. Mark Philippoussis finished in third with 1,100 points, winning titles in Salt Lake City and Vancouver. The year before in 2014, McEnroe won the points title for the first time in the nine-year history of Champions Series tennis by winning events in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Nashville and Charlotte.
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