Passing Shots

Everyone scoffed last month when Mark Philippoussis, after years
of coach-hopping and three surgeries on his left knee, announced
he had reunited with his father, Nick, and then went on to lose
in the second round of the French Open. But on Monday the
48th-ranked Philippoussis, 26, looking more agile and dangerous
than he has in years, pulled off the biggest win since he upset
Pete Sampras at the '96 Australian Open when he defeated
top-ranked Andre Agassi in five sets. "We went back to basics, as
simple as that," Philippoussis said.... U.S. Federation Cup
captain Billie Jean King won the battle of public relations when
she and Jennifer Capriati faced off in an ugly clash over team
rules last spring, but her latest hard-line stance is nearly
impossible to defend. Fed Cup stalwart Lindsay Davenport wanted
to play the July 19-20 tie against Italy in Washington, D.C., but
only if she could join the team--on Tuesday night rather than
Tuesday morning. "She told me to forget it; after playing 10
years I'm not too happy either," Davenport said. "My mom is
having surgery on Monday; I obviously wanted to be home for that.
I really wanted to play."

COLOR PHOTO: SIMON BRUTY (PHILIPPOUSSIS) Philippoussis upset Agassi with agility and a Wimbledonrecord-tying 46 aces.