It’s a Very Long Day’s Journey Into Fourth Round for Philippoussis

If Mark Philippoussis and his father thought he turned from a boy into a man after his breakthrough five-set victory over Thomas Johansson in the 1998 quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, what was he possibly thinking after his 5-hour, 1-minute battle against Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands?

“I’m an old man now,” said Philippoussis, who resembled a bloodied warrior, Aussie style, on Court 2 at Wimbledon.

The 10th-seeded Philippoussis beat Schalken, 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 20-18, in the third round Saturday. It was the longest fifth set in the Open era, and the longest match at Wimbledon since the epic 1969 victory by Pancho Gonzalez against Charlie Pasarell, 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9, in 5:12. That first-round match was played over two days. This one was completed in one day.

Philippoussis was “disappointed” he had only 44 aces, pointing out he once had 43 in a three-set match.

“Those are the kind of matches I’m proud of,” he said. And poor Schalken seems to be cursed with miserable luck at Wimbledon. Last year, he lost to Jim Courier, 13-11, in the fifth set, squandering two match points.

“I think Wimbledon doesn’t want to have me in the fourth round,” said Schalken, who had 30 aces. “Last year, I was really, really devastated from that match against Courier. This time, I will get over it quicker. You learn from those matches.”

Philippoussis plays eighth-seeded Tim Henman next. Henman’s third-round victory over Hicham Arazi was completed in 1:47. In comparison, the fifth set of Schalken-Philippoussis was 2:15.

Afterward, Philippoussis was visited by his coaches in the locker room, and it was quickly determined he would not be required to work very hard today in practice.

“My head was on the ground. Obviously there was blood all over my shorts,” said Philippoussis, who was scraped up when he fell on the court. “My arms were dripping.”

And there was more.

“Felt like I’ve been punched to death for five hours,” he said.