Cash clash over volley of love taunts

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash and current Aussie star Mark Philippoussis are embroiled in an off-court battle over the former Neighbours beauty Delta Goodrem.

The row erupted after Cash publicly blamed a poor performance by Philippoussis in the Australian Open on the tennis ace's love life with Delta.

After an alleged 'string of foul-mouthed insults' from Philippoussis, Cash had threatened to go to the police to take out a restraining order.

He claimed the player had threatened him and given him cause to be concerned about being in the same locker room with him.

Philippoussis and 19-year-old Delta who, like Kylie Minogue, has blazed her way into the pop world, have formed a close friendship and have been seen walking hand in hand together in Melbourne. It was because of their relationship, said Cash, that Philippoussis lost his fourth-round match.

He went on to suggest that Delta had kept Philippoussis up all night.

'It looked like he was up all night doing whatever ... getting busy,' Cash said.

The public comments sent Philippoussis into a rage. He rang Cash and reprimanded him.

Later Cash said in a TV interview: 'I've had a lot of abuse hurled at me, rightly or wrongly.

'There have been arguments and fights, having been through a divorce.

'But I've never ever been abused and threatened like I was. I'm not prepared to suffer such a string of foulmouthed insults, not from anyone, least of all Mark Philippoussis, who I regard as the most blatant waster of talent in the current game of tennis.'