Tennis great Mark Philippoussis has broken his silence after it was reported that he was involved in a tense exchange with an opposition coach following his son’s U12s basketball match on Monday.
The two-time Grand Slam finalist has defended his actions after revealing that he approached the unnamed South Geelong Kings coach because he was disappointed about how the coach was ‘speaking to young referees’ officiating the game.
South Geelong Kings sealed a one-point victory against YMCA Roderick at the Beyond Bank Stadium on Monday evening. It was first reported by 3AW’s Rumour File that Philippoussis had approached the opposing team’s coach after the match.
Philippoussis’s son, Nicholas, plays for Roderick alongside Geelong great Cameron Ling’s son, Henry. Ling is understood to have stepped in to urge Mark that it ‘was not worth’ confronting the opposition coach.
Ling, a premiership-winning captain, added that there was no aggression and that their discussion was ‘calm’.
‘It was all calm and there were certainly no raised voices or swearing or anything like that,’ Ling told The Sydney Morning Herald. He added: ‘It was far from that type of discussion.’
Mark Philippoussis (pictured with his partner Silvana) was involved in a tense exchange with an opposition coach following his son’s U12s basketball match on Monday
But he was reporteldy ‘pulled away’ from the confrontation by AFL legend Cameron Ling (pictured)
Philippoussis (pictured) has since defended himself, while also adding, along with Ling, that there was no verbal abuse, aggression or swearing when the confrontation took place
Philippoussis explained his version of events to The Sydney Morning Herald after the match, stating that he personally knew the individual he was speaking with.
‘No one was appreciating the way he was speaking to the young referees,’ he said of the coach.
‘These referees are 16-17 [years old]. After the game, I just had a word and said something to him, and that’s all it was.
‘It was a father that I know because our kids play in the same team… so that’s why I just said: “Look, you know, this got out of hand.’
Philippoussis explained that while he did not regret approaching the other coach, he felt he should have had the conversation with the other man away from the court.
‘The only thing I’m upset with myself [for] is that I should have had the conversation with him straight away outside… because people will talk quickly and escalate this, and it’s exactly what happened.’
The 11-time ATP Tour winner then added that it was Ling who had urged him to take things outside, again emphasising Ling’s comments that there was no aggression between the pair.
He revealed to The Herald Sun what he had said to the Geelong Kings coach.
The two-time Grand Slam finalist explained that he had become incensed with the opposition coach after the other man had berated teenage kids who were refereeing the match
Philippoussis enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional tennis star after turning pro in 1994, notably winning two Davis Cups with Australia
‘I said: “You have a responsibility as a coach and as a parent”,’ he explained. ‘I was just a dad protecting the kids. I was bewildered as a parent that he didn’t know better.
‘The referees were teenagers and doing their best.’
‘Cam [Ling] was pulling me away, saying it’s not worth it. There was no swearing, no yelling.’
‘I’m proud of the way the boys competed and, at the end of the day, it’s about safety,’ he added, reflecting on the match.
‘Our priority should be to mould these kids to compete in a safe environment.’
Meanwhile, Geelong United Basketball told The Sydney Morning Herald that it was ‘aware of an incident at a junior’s game on Monday evening involving alleged verbal abuse.’
‘We are currently investigating the situation and will act accordingly with all concerned parties once the investigation process is concluded.’
Meanwhile, the YMCA Basketball Club also told the outlet that no verbal abuse or swearing took place.
Ling’s (pictured) son, Henry, plays on the same team as Philippoussis’ son, Nicholas. The former Geelong premiership captain stepped in after he thought the conversation ‘had gone on long enough’
Philippoussis stated that his only regret was that he should have approached the coach away from the basketball court
‘I hope there’s no suggestion of aggression,’ Ling told The Herald Sun. ‘It was a post-match discussion and I just thought it had gone on long enough and steered them away.
‘I always prefer to move on and be in an environment that’s positive and calm. They were two good little teams and we were hungry afterwards and the next match was about to start.’
Philippoussis enjoyed a distinguished career as a professional tennis star after turning pro in 1994.
He’d go on to win two Davis Cup titles with Australia in 1999 and 2003, notably also reaching the 1998 US Open men’s singles final and the 2003 men’s singles final at Wimbledon.
