Philippoussis Father Blasts Goodrem's Mother

The father of Australian tennis star Mark Philippoussis has accused DELTA GOODREM's mother of turning the press against him after the pair split this month (OCT04).

NICK PHILIPPOUSSIS, who is also Mark's coach, claims his son ditched fellow antipodean Goodrem in order to rebuild his tennis career which had been "going down the gurgler".

Nick blames Delta's mother and manager LEA for exercising a PR campaign against Mark, demonising him for his alleged new romance with PARIS HILTON so soon after his split from 19-year-old Delta.

Nick blasts, "Things weren't working out well. What has he done? Did Mark kill anybody? Did he rape anybody?

"They were not married, they weren't even engaged. I'm trying to understand what's the problem?

"Mark made a decision. His tennis has been going down the gurgler for the past 10 months and he decided to change things. Mark decided, 'Let's go ahead with my tennis and make that the priority.' What's wrong with that?

"Mother Delta and co are trying to make him into someone who's done something wrong."

And Nick sticks up for his son's decision to date reality TV star Hilton, because he's a young, single man who has the right to see whoever he wants.

He adds, "And what is the problem with Mark if he goes out with anybody? He can go out with whoever he wants to. He's 27 years old, he doesn't have to get my permission or anyone else's."