Mark Philippoussis once dated 'cougars' in controversial reality show

Tennis pro Mark Philippoussis is currently starring in season two of SAS Australia.

But the Channel Seven series isn't Mark's first stint on reality TV, with the sportsman appearing on a cheesy American dating show back in 2007.

Title Age of Love, the series followed a then 30-year-old Philippoussis as he dated women in their 20s and 40s to determine the best age group to date.

The women in their 20s were dubbed 'kittens' on the series, while the over 40s were called 'cougars'.

Because the younger cast members were much closer in age to Mark than the cougars, many viewers and critics felt that they had an unfair advantage.

Unsurprisingly, the tennis champ chose 25-year-old cheerleader Amanda Salinas in the end.

The couple dated for five months after filming wrapped, before splitting amicably.

Mark retired from tennis in 2015 - but on SAS Australia, the champion revealed his passion for the game waned years prior.

In an interrogation with the instructors, the 44-year-old said he felt personally slighted when he was unable to score a lucrative clothing contract despite his success on the court.

At the time, he had reached the finals of the 2003 Wimbledon tournament and won the Davis Cup, as well as reaching the number eight rank in the world.

Despite this, sponsors were not biting - and it left the young tennis player feeling dejected.