By Steven Wine
The Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England - In the interest of preserving a fragile knee and roller-coaster career, Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis gave up some dangerous hobbies - skydiving, snowboarding and dirt-bike riding.

He still surfs, however, and says riding a wave near his home in Southern California is more hairy than stepping onto Centre Court.

Maybe that's why he sounds so ho-hum about playing for his first Grand Slam title today.

"Nothing to get too excited about," the Australian said.

Roger Federer begs to differ. He's thrilled to be the first Swiss man in a major final.

"It's incredible," Federer said. "I'm very happy to have an opportunity to win a Grand Slam, and this is my favorite tournament."

In the United States, network TV types and headline writers would have preferred Andy vs. Andre, but no one will argue that either finalist would be an unworthy champion. Federer beat Andy Roddick in the semifinals, and Philippoussis beat Andre Agassi in the fourth round.

The final might even produce some entertaining tennis, never a given on grass. Federer's elegant all-court versatility will contrast with Philippoussis' single-minded, big-swinging game, which has delivered 164 aces in six rounds.

Each long has been touted as a future Grand Slam champion, and Philippoussis was on the verge five years ago when he lost to countryman Pat Rafter in the U.S. Open final. The next year, he hurt his left knee, leading to three operations and more than two months in a wheelchair. He missed all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2001.

Philippoussis moved to the San Diego area and began working with a trainer whose clients include Green Berets. In one exercise, Philippoussis descended long stairways hands first.

"We've done some crazy drills where he's nearly made me cry," said Philippoussis.

He began to concentrate more on tennis. Before this year's French Open, Philippoussis began working with his father, who oversaw his early development, after parting with coach Peter McNamara.

And Philippoussis, 26, is showing he now has the tenacity to win. At Wimbledon, he has rallied from a set down twice, and from two sets down once.

With one more victory, he'll become the third unseeded men's champion since Wimbledon began seeding players in 1927. The others were Boris Becker in 1985 and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

"Mark is one of the most talented players I've ever seen," said Australian Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion. "When he can put it together and when he serves the way he can, he has so much power, so much ability and so much strength. He's an animal out there."

The No. 4-seeded Federer takes a different approach. While he managed to outserve Roddick, he mixes the pace and spin of his strokes and can hit a winner from anywhere.

Two years ago, at 19, Federer ended Pete Sampras' 31-match Wimbledon winning streak. This year, he has shown versatility, with titles on grass, hardcourt and clay.

All that's left is the long-expected Grand Slam breakthrough.

"He can serve-and-volley at times, he can stay back, he plays the drop shot, he plays the slice, he really can play all shots," said Becker. "That's something we don't see that much anymore, and it's good that this kind of tennis is succeeding at Wimbledon."

A look at today's men's finalists

Roger Federer (Seed: 4), Switzerland

Right-hander, 21, lives in Bottmingen, Switzerland. ... Ranked fifth. ... Playing Wimbledon for the fifth time. ... With his title at Halle, Germany, attempting to become only the third player since 1985 (after Pete Sampras and Lleyton Hewitt) to win a pre-Wimbledon grass-court title and Wimbledon in the same year. ... Won the Wimbledon junior title in 1998, when he was ranked the world's No. 1 junior. ... His No. 4 Wimbledon seeding is his highest at any Grand Slam. ... Is first Swiss man to appear in a Grand Slam final. ... Has eight career singles titles. ... This season, he has won titles in Marseille, Dubai, Munich and Halle, and was runner-up in Rome. ... Lost one set in reaching the final. ... Beat Lee Hyung-taik in first round, Stefan Koubek in second, Mardy Fish in third, Feliciano Lopez in fourth, No. 8 Sjeng Schalken in quarterfinals and No. 5 Andy Roddick in semifinals. ... Idols when growing up were Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. ... Enjoys watching American pro wrestling. ... Coached by Peter Lundgren and trains with Pierre Paganini of the Swiss Tennis Federation.

Mark Philippoussis (unseeded), Australia

Right-hander, 26, lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif. ... Ranked 48th. ... Trying to become just third unseeded champion since Wimbledon began seeding players in 1927 (Boris Becker, 1985; Goran Ivanisevic, 2001). ... Playing Wimbledon for the seventh time. ... Total of 164 aces through six matches. ... Served 46 aces while beating Andre Agassi in the fourth round, equaling the Wimbledon record for one match set by Ivanisevic in 1997. ... Has been hindered by knee injuries, beginning when he tore cartilage while leading Pete Sampras 6-4, 1-2 in the 1999 Wimbledon quarterfinals. ... Has nine career singles titles. ... This season, reached the Scottsdale final before losing to Lleyton Hewitt. ... Was runner-up to Patrick Rafter at the 1998 U.S. Open. ... Lost six sets in reaching the final. ... Beat Mariano Zabaleta in first round, Cyril Saulnier in second, No. 35 Radek Stepanek in third, No. 2 Agassi in fourth, Alexander Popp in quarterfinals and No. 13 Sebastien Grosjean in semifinals. ... Has an Alexander the Great tattoo on his right arm. ... Coached by his father, Nick.