This year saw plenty of surprise results, starting from the very first round as five-time finalist Andy Murray lost to Thomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets.

Carlos Alcaraz then lost to Alexander Zverev in the latter stages of the tournament, a big surprise considering many had tipped the Spaniard to win a maiden title down under.

Fans may see the likes of 2024 Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz, or Zverev shocked at this year’s tournament, but surely no surprise will be bigger than what happened back in 1996.

Mark Philippoussis: The man who beat word number one Pete Sampras as a 19 year old back in 1996

Pete Sampras entered the 1996 Australian Open as a heavy favorite for the title, as world number one, and having won the title in Melbourne just two years prior in 1994.

He made his way into the third round without too much trouble, dropping just one set as he battled past Richard Fromberg and Michael Joyce.

Then stepped up Australian youngster Mark Philippoussis, who despite his physical stature, standing at six foot five, was a big underdog having entered the tournament as world number 39.

He wasn’t intimated by his opponent’s ranking, however, as Philippoussis put on a sublime performance to book his place in the fourth round.

Winning 6-4, 7-6, 7-6, the 19-year-old secured his first win over a world number one, as Rod Laver Arena erupted as their newest star had arrived.

Philippoussis’ career had just begun and whilst his Australian Open journey ended in the next round to Mark Woodforde, the Aussie achieved plenty more success in the years that followed.

In 1998, Philippoussis enjoyed his greatest Grand Slam performance as he reached the final of the US Open, despite once more entering the tournament without a seed by his name.

The Aussie made his way into the showpiece match in New York, bettering several familiar faces.

Philippoussis beat the likes of Tim Henman, Thomas Johansson, and Carlos Moya on his way to the final, where he faced off against fellow Aussie Patrick Rafter.

Having dropped the first set, Philippoussis tied things up at 1-1, before Rafter pushed into another gear and clinched his second consecutive US Open title.

It was heartbreak for Philippoussis, but he didn’t let that deter him as he reached a Grand Slam final once more at Wimbledon in 2003.

Remarkably entering the tournament unseeded again, Philippoussis shocked Andre Agassi in the fourth round on his way to the final against Roger Federer.

It was there that the Aussie gained his place in the history books, perhaps not as he had intended, as he became the first of 12 men to lose to the Swiss star in a Major final.

He may have started his career with some big Grand Slam results, but most of Philippoussis’ legacy was born from his performances at the Davis Cup.

Twice the Aussie lifted the trophy, in 1999, and in 2003, winning the deciding tie on both occasions.

In 1999, Philippoussis took down France’s Cedric Pioline to secure the title, and in 2003 he battled past Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in five sets to bring Australia home their 28th Davis Cup crown.

Results that saw the six-foot-five Aussie write his name into Australian tennis folklore.

Philippoussis retired from tennis in 2008 having reached a career-high ranking of eighth in the world and winning 11 ATP titles.

The Greek-Australian went on to try his hand at modelling, and reality TV, as Philippoussis never left the public eye since his breakout performance against Sampras back in 1996.

Who will be Australia’s next Grand Slam champion?

Despite his many successes at the Davis Cup, Philippoussis was never quite able to get over the line and take home a Grand Slam title.

Lleyton Hewitt’s triumph at Wimbledon in 2002 was the last time an Aussie man lifted a Grand Slam title aloft, but who currently looks best placed to win a Major?

Nick Kyrgios is the only active Aussie to have reached a Grand Slam final, losing to Djokovic back in 2022, but hasn’t played an ATP match in over 12 months.

Worryingly for Australian tennis fans he is just one of two Australian players ranked inside the world’s top 100 to have reached a Grand Slam quarter-final.

Alexei Popyrin did win the Montreal Open earlier this year, however, and whilst he is yet to perform at the Major level, could be in a strong position to do so as the 2025 season begins.

Perhaps someone from the next generation of Australian tennis is most likely to replicate Hewitt’s success.

His son Cruz Hewitt, who will debut at this year’s Australian Open, could be the one to finally get it done, having impressed through the junior ranks.

It remains to be seen if we’ll see another Australian Grand Slam winner, but there is no doubt that the likes of Kyrgios, De Minaur, and Popyrin will be trying to replicate some Philippoussis-like performances at the 2025 Australian Open which begins on January 12.

Related Posts