Newport, July 17:

Australian Mark Philippoussis swept past Justin Gimelstob 6-3, 7-5 to win the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

Philippoussis, 29, was a wild card at the event but that didn’t stop the former Wimbledon and US Open finalist registering an 11th career title and his first since Shanghai in 2003, his last appearance in a final.

“Health is No 1, no matter if you are a tennis player or a businessman or whatever you do,” the Aussie said. “Getting up in the morning and feeling good is the most important thing. I’m enjoying my tennis, waking up early, playing matches, feeling healthy.”

Philippoussis’ game is well suited to grass, as evidenced by his run to the 2003 Wimbledon final, where he lost to Roger Federer.

The Aussie downed third-seeded American Paul Goldstein in the first round, 6-4, 6-2, then dropped just one set in his next four matches as he took advantage of his booming serve, recording 64 aces, including 15 against Gimelstob, who is ranked 111th.

Philippoussis, who did not drop his serve all week, saving three break points on Sunday, improved to 3-1 against Gimelstob, whom he had not faced since losing in Los Angeles in 2000.