Bio
Mark Philippoussis is an Australian tennis player who turned professional in 1994. He has also had a minor career in modeling and was featured in the American reality television dating show Age of Love, in 2007.
Born in 1976 in Melbourne, Australia, Mark's beginnings were inauspicious. His father, who dedicated his life to his son's development took a second job driving taxis at night to support his son's fledgling career. Often, he would spend several days' salary on tennis apparel for his son.
His struggles were short lived, however, as Mark's aggressive style of play soon helped him dominate Australian tennis and burst onto the international scene.
By 1999 Mark had cracked the top 10 in the world. He became a household name and premier target for sponsors almost overnight.
Mark turned professional in 1994. The next year, at the age of 19, he was the youngest player in the history of the sport to end the year in the top 50.
In 1996, he upset Pete Sampras in the Australian Open and in 2003 Mark advanced to the final at Wimbledon to face Roger Federer.
A self-professed "adrenaline junkie," Mark has a penchant for all things fast-horses, planes, motorcycles and cars. He's an avid surfer and sky diver. He's even on route to get his pilot's license.
Mark appreciates the simplicity of life - being outdoors, taking surfing trips and enjoying living. One of his fondest memories is of a surf trip he took by himself to Costa Rica. He raves about the outdoor showers and the rustic setting.