Mark Philippoussis hit with $15,000 fine in tennis integrity controversy
The Aussie tennis great has also been slugged with a four-month suspended ban.
Aussie tennis great Mark Philippoussis has been hit with a $US10,000 ($A15,000) fine by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for breaching rules around betting sponsorships. The ITIA announced on Wednesday that Philippoussis was also given a four-month suspended ban "after receiving payment for providing a voiceover to promotional content for a gaming operator."
The Integrity Agency said Philippoussis did not contest the charge and had fully cooperated with the investigation. "As a sport, tennis has decided that accredited individuals should not have commercial relationships with betting companies," ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse said. "Whilst this case is clearly not one of corruption, it is a rule that players, coaches, and others in the sport need to be aware of."
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A former World No.8, Philippoussis reached the final at the US Open in 1998 and the final of Wimbledon in 2003. He famously finished runner-up to Pat Rafter in an all-Aussie clash in 1998, and lost to Roger Federer in the 2003 decider at the All England Club.
He recently worked with Greek players Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari as a coach, and was in Tsitsipas' box when he made the final at the Australian Open in January. However he parted ways with the World No.5 prior to the French Open in May.
"Thank for the opportunity of being a part of your team,” Philippoussis wrote on Instagram. “It was a great ride and experience, I’m proud of what we achieved together in the short amount of time we had. I wish you health, happiness and success for your future, on and off the court."
Tsitsipas previously hailed the calming presence that the Aussie had brought to his team. “Mark is a very wise man, he has a lot of knowledge," the 24-year-old said.
“I think the fact that he’s lived these things himself on the tour and he’s able to provide some [advice] to me now is essential. He provides a lot of feedback. He can relate to a lot of things that have happened to me and sees a little bit of himself in me in some circumstances and situations.”
Mark Philippoussis' warning for Nick Kyrgios
Speaking earlier this month, Philippoussis warned Nick Kyrgios' that his career could be in jeopardy if he doesn't throw everything into rehab on his injured knee. Kyrgios has only played one match this year having withdrawn from the Australian Open on the eve of the tournament.
Philippoussis, who had six surgeries on his knee throughout his career, knows how difficult it will be for Kyrgios to rebound. The Aussie great was left alarmed after watching the 28-year-old play his only match this year - a tame loss in Stuttgart in June.
"He's not even close to being fit, and I knew straight away he was in trouble," said Philippoussis at Wimbledon. "If he comes back too early, which we have seen, and if he's not putting in the work physically on that knee to strengthen that joint, unfortunately I'm not sure how much we're going to see him.
"You have to give yourself every opportunity to come back and if you're a big guy and get a knee issue, you better get it right before you come back because it's just going to make it worse, you're going to be out further and your career could be done."
with AAP
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