No regrets for Philippoussis as he heads for London

The Australian with the destructive serve, once recorded at a booming 142mph, heads to London as part of a six-man field for the AEGON Masters event, starting on Wednesday.

Philippoussis begins his campaign the following day against Sweden's Thomas Enqvist in the Champions Tour round-robin format which also features former British number one Tim Henman and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

His huge service earned him the nickname 'Scud' but Philippoussis endured a career punctuated by injuries - he has had six knee operations to date.

But fresh from celebrating Thanksgiving at his California base, the former world No8 and twice Grand Slam runner-up, claims he doesn't look back and consider what might have been.

"It (my career) doesn't leave me frustrated. I've had a blessed career - I really feel like I've done some good things", Philippoussis said.

"If I was a five-year-old kid and someone came to me and said listen you're going to become a pro, here's what you're going to do - I would take it in a second.

"I have been very lucky to have won two Davis Cups for my country, one at home in Melbourne in front of my family and friends, which is hard to top. I know I haven't won a Grand Slam but winning two Davis Cups was an incredible feeling of joy. Also I had two amazing tournaments in the US Open and Wimbledon so I have no regrets at all whatsoever."

Since quitting the main tour in 2006, the Philippoussis of today admits he doesn't take a great deal of interest in the men's game and would be hard pushed to name half the current top 30 and which country they come from. But he does confess to missing the cut-and-thrust nature of the circuit.

He said: "I miss playing on those Centre Court's with the crowd. They're the kind of things after a while you take for granted and for me at some stage during my career it became a job and that's the last thing you want from something that you love doing.

"I lost it for a while and then got it back. I miss just playing in those matches, competing in those points and then hearing the crowd and doing a fist-pump after a huge point, or a match point, or if you're lucky enough to hold up the trophy on a Sunday afternoon."

The end-of-season ATP World Tour finals drew to a close yesterday with Roger Federer's three-set win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. However after an arduous season, injury led to Andy Murray's early exit, while Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also carried their share of niggles into the O2 finale leading some observers to call for a review on the hectic tennis calendar. It is a situation Philippoussis sympathises with.

"Tennis is an amazing sport but we have no off-season, simple as that", he said. "Every other sport has an off-season. I don't know any other sport that plays literally January to December if you have a great year, so it's a long season.

"It's very important to look at the schedule - players should get together and talk about it. There is so much involved now.

"I understand there are a lot of events but no-one is putting a gun to your head and saying you've got to play all these events. You could take time off; no-one is forcing them to play those smaller events. Unfortunately it is politics but they've just got to come together and find a nice medium."

As for his own schedule, Philippoussis is only looking as far as his date at the Albert Hall.

He said: "I first played there two years ago, it's one of the most beautiful courts I've played on - you're playing literally on the theatre stage. Every seat is an incredible seat which is so close to the crowd. It's absolutely beautiful."

"It's an interesting field and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm going to go out there and all you can do is give your best. To be honest I feel that I can do well, it's a court that favours me but also the other guys as well so there should be some good matches."

Mark Philippoussis will be playing alongside Tim Henman, Goran Ivanisevic and other ATP Champions at the AEGON Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall from Wednesday November 30 - Sunday December 4. Tickets start from £17.50. To book tickets call the box office on 020 7070 4404 or visit www.aegonmasterstennis.com. For hospitality enquiries please call 020 8233 5854.