Philippoussis Dumps Courier In Pilot Pen International

Big-serving Mark Philippoussis won two tiebreakers to upset Jim Courier on Thursday and reach the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pen International at New Haven, Conn.

Philippoussis, seeded No. 14, beat the third-seeded Courier 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3).

Philippoussis, who rattles many opponents with his serve, said he has been working hard to improve his all-around game.

“I’d like to think if my serve is not working, which in the past it hasn’t, that I can rely on groundstrokes or coming into the net,” he said. “I think I played smart today. I didn’t go for too many stupid shots.”

Top-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia advanced earlier in the day, defeating No. 15 Andrea Gaudenzi of Italy 6-1, 6-4.

Second-seeded Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands needed three sets to get by unseeded Patrick Rafter of Australia 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. It was the third meeting between Rafter and the Wimbledon champ, and the first time Rafter had won a set from Krajicek.

No. 4 Wayne Ferreira of South Africa, No. 6 Marc Rosset of Switzerland, No. 10 Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands and No. 12 Daniel Vacek of the Czech Republic also reached the quarterfinals.

Lionel Roux of France scored his second straight victory over a seeded player, knocking No. 9 Stefan Edberg out of the RCA Championships 6-3, 6-4 at Indianapolis.

Roux, ranked 112th in the world, handled Edberg a day after ousting No. 7 Jason Stoltenberg. He earned his first quarterfinal berth of the year.