Seed Philippoussis wilts between the showers

IT IS the familiar pattern of an English summer covers off, but quickly on again, seeds in, but quickly out. Today it was the turn of defending champion Mark Philippoussis to take a first round bow out of the Stella Artois at Queen's Club.

The No9 seed was so upset by his 7-6, 7-5 defeat by Jordi Burillo, a Spaniard 70 places below him on the ATP computer, and so thoroughly disenchanted with his game in general at the moment, that he may yet withdraw from Wimbledon in a fortnight's time.

"This year has been pathetic for me," Philippoussis said after the match. "I'm just not there at all. I'm confused in my tennis. Sometimes I play well, but it's like I'm not hungry anymore. I don't know what it is happening out there." Since reaching a tour final in Memphis in February, Philippoussis has made it beyond the second round of a tournament only once. The Australian has yet to compete in the doubles draw, for which he has entered with Goran Ivanisevic. If his participation in that competition does not last the week, he is likely to return to his home in Florida and take a decision on Wimbledon. The first round match withBurillo resumed at 2-2 this morning, progressing routinely with serve to a tie break, which the Spaniard took - after the pair had traded mini-breaks - when Philippoussis served a double fault at 9-10. Burillo fashioned match point - the first break point of the contest - in the 12th game of the second set with a beautiful two fisted backhand down the line, which was duly converted when Philippoussi sent a regulation forehand long and wide. Andrew Richardson,the 6ft 7in left hander, was the first British casualty today as he went out in three sets to Daniel Nestor of Canada. Richardson captured Nestor's serve in the opening game but had increasing difficulties with his ball toss in the wind and double faulted twice running to lose his serve in the sixth game. Two more double faults at 5-4 down cost him the first set. Richardson counterattacked strongly to win the second set but surrounded his serve twice in the final set to give Nestor an unpres- sured victory, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1. Briton Martin Lee then fell 6-2, 6-3 to the Armenian Sar-gis Sargsian, who now faces Tim Henman.

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