SportsLine wire reports

LONDON -- The Scud is firing on all cylinders, for nothing pumps up Australian Mark Philippoussis like Wimbledon, the ultimate stage in tennis.

A year ago, he was talking about giving up the game at the age of 21. Now the seventh seed has set his sights on the most famous title in the sport.

"This is Wimbledon and I am pumped up and enjoying it," he told reporters on Monday after beating promising Belgian teenager Xavier Malisse 6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.

"I knuckled down. I am very happy with the way it went today," said Philippoussis after his booming serve cut down the 18-year-old Malisse.

Philippoussis was making headlines last year for all the wrong reasons in a public rift with his compatriots over the Davis Cup, which the Melbourne player refused to play in.

But he is now in a positive frame of mind, still feeding off his appearance in the U.S. Open final and a Wimbledon experience ended in the quarter-finals by Pete Sampras.

"It is so tough for players to be pumped up every week," he said. He confines himself to just 14 tournaments a year, otherwise "I lose it mentally more than physically."

The teenage fans were out in force on Court Number Two, known as the graveyard of champions because so many hot favourites have been buried by outsiders there.

They chanted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi" for their tall hero. One teenager begged a security guard to let her in for just a few seconds so she could snatch a quick photo.

Philippoussis's promising young opponent was philosophical in defeat.

"I had nothing to lose," Malisse said. ``This was my first Wimbledon. I am only 18. There will be plenty more Wimbledons, he just out-served me today." /p>

IN OTHER ACTION MONDAYSandrine Testud was the first women's seed through to the second round when she beat Britain's Julie Pullin 6-1,6-3.

The French 13th seed was given a 62-minute warm-up by the wild card entry for the greater battles that lie ahead -- she is due to meet Monica Seles in the fourth round.

The highest ranked Briton in women's tennis, Samantha Smith, also lost, to Ines Gorrochategui of Argentina 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Smith reached the fourth round last year after beating eighth seed and 1994 champion Conchita Martinez.

But there was better news for local fans in the men's draw when Danny Sapsford, who will retire after the tournament, beat Julian Alonso of Spain 6-2, 6-2, 7-5.

Sapsford has not made it past the second round here in six previous tournaments and qualified this year after beating former Australian Open champion Petr Korda in qualifying, a defeat that triggered the Czech's retirement.

"I've got really low expectations, I'm really laid back," said Sapsford.

Belgian qualifier Kim Clijsters, playing in her first Grand Slam tournament, made a great start by beating American Joannette Kruger 6-2, 6-3 and will play Karen Cross in the second round after the Briton beat Lilia Osterloh of the U.S. 6-1, 6-4.

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