Mark Philippoussis has tasted success at ATP level for the first time since 2006, teaming up with American Ryan Harrison to win a doubles match at the Hall of Fame Championships in Newport.
The 38-year-old two-time grand slam finalist lost in the first round of singles qualifying after being awarded a wildcard at the Rhode Island event.
However he enjoyed a victorious return to the doubles court as he and world No.127 Harrison defeated Tatsuma Ito and Lukas Lacko 6-3 6-4 on Wednesday
It marked Philippoussis’ first tour-level match win since the 2006 Newport singles final, when he defeated Justin Gimelstob to claim his 11th ATP world tour crown.
He and Harrison will next face second-seeded American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram on Friday.
Philippoussis succumbed to 332nd-ranked American Eric Quigley 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-4) in the singles last week after surprisingly being announced as a wildcard entrant.
He said after the loss he was glad he entered the tournament but had no plans to make a serious comeback to the men’s tour.
“It was just about playing one event,” Philippoussis said after losing in one hour and 30 minutes.
“There’s no talk about a comeback. Down the line if I see something, maybe close to California, I might do that. It’s one event and that’s it.”
Philippoussis lost two grand slam finals, to countryman Pat Rafter at the 1998 US Open and Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2003 before a knee injury cut his career short.
Living in San Diego with his wife Silvana and one-year-old son Nicholas, he’s played on the serniors tour in recent years and took part in an exhibition match against Rafael Nadal in the lead-up to this year’s Australian Open.
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