Mark Philippoussis hopes his experience of playing in a grand slam final will tilt Sunday's Wimbledon showdown with Swiss fourth seed Roger Federer in his favour.
Federer, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam before, will be stepping into the unknown when he walks out on Centre Court.
But in 1998, before his three knee operations, a spell confined to a wheelchair and the slump to 48th in the world rankings, Philippoussis reached the final of the U.S. Open.
"The good thing is I've been through a Grand Slam final in 1998 so it's not going to be new for me," said the unseeded 26-year-old, who lost to fellow Australian Pat Rafter at Flushing Meadows.
"I'm a lot more prepared this time. Back then I was just so obviously pleased being in my first Grand Slam final.
"Being a lot younger, everything was new and I was extremely nervous for that final then."
Philippoussis says reaching the Wimbledon final after all his trials and tribulations could transform his career.
"A lot of things are going to change for me. I'm going to expect things from myself. This is a big step forward for me as a tennis player but also as a person off the court.
"After all those years of fighting to get back up it's not a bad thing to have sponsors asking things from you.
"It means you're are doing something right, it means people want to see you. That's something that I'll be looking forward to embracing.
LUCK CHANGED
"I knew it was going to be a long way back and I was going to have to work extremely hard on and off court and make sacrifices and it's just paid off.
"On the tennis side I felt like I was a little unlucky and just felt like 'When's the luck gonna come my side?'.
"But then I thought that was the wrong approach to have. You've got to make your own luck. That's just the way I've been thinking about it.
"You just can't sit around and expect things to happen. You've got to make them happen. I say people are in charge of making their own destiny.
"I always knew what I was capable of doing."
The man nicknamed 'Scud' for his missile-like serves -- he has smashed 164 aces in six matches so far -- says he is determined to enjoy Sunday's experience.
"I'm a very private person off the court but once I get on the court, it feels like my stage. I'm not nervous and I'm not shy. I just go out there and have fun."
