Jim Courier and Mark Philippoussis advanced to the final of the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships Saturday with victories to clinch perfect 3-0 round-robin records at the Surprise Recreation Campus. Courier defeated John McEnroe 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 (Champions Tie-Breaker), while Philippoussis defeated Michael Chang 7-5, 7-5.
In Sundays final, the 40-year-old Courier will be seeking his 10th career title on the Champions Series, the New York-based global tennis circuit for champion tennis players over the age of 30. It will also mark his 15th career final on the six-year-old circuit. Philippoussis, who will turn 34 on November 7, will be appearing in his third straight Champions Series final after posting a runner-up finish in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and winning the title in Boston earlier this year. Sundays winner will collect a first prize paycheck of $54,000 and 800 Champions Series ranking points.
McEnroe broke Couriers serve twice in the first set, in the opening game and in the last game, utilizing his signature touch volleys to manipulate play. Courier became more aggressive early in the second set in an attempt to keep the net-rushing McEnroe on the baseline. He registered the only service break of the second set in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. In the Champions Tie-Breaker, a first-to-10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third set, Courier took a commanding 8-2 lead before holding on for victory.
I served pretty well and I became more aggressive on his second serve, said Courier following the match. His service percentage went down in the second set and I got a lot more looks and took advantage. Early in the Champions Tie-Breaker, it was a little bit dicey, but then I was able to get to the net and knock some points off. John, like most offensive players, prefers to be on offense rather than defense, so if you can take them out of their element you have a chance.
Said McEnroe, I think there was some really good quality tennis. It was a hotly-contested, good match that was going back and forth.
Against Chang, Philippoussis fired 17 aces and was never seriously threatened on serve. He was able to break Changs serve in the 12th game of each set to advance into Sundays final.
I was just being aggressive, playing my game and trying to dictate the points, said Philippoussis, who has been training in California lately with current U.S. No. 1 Andy Roddick.
Said Chang, I wasnt able to make much of a dent on his serve and I was just hoping to get into the tiebreaker, and anything goes from there. When it comes down to it, a few points here and there makes a huge difference. Marks playing good tennis for sure. Hes hitting all four corners pretty well. Even when I could get a racquet on his serve, I wasnt able to do a whole lot with it. That makes it pretty tough.
Chang, 38, is playing in his first Champions Series event since March of 2006, when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him from competitive tennis for years. He will face 51-year-old McEnroe in Sundays third-place match at starts at noon and precedes the championship match. Both Chang and McEnroe finished second in their respective round-robin groups with 2-1 records.
The schedule of play for Sunday is as follows:
Sunday, October 24
Starting at Noon
Third Place Match Michael Chang vs. John McEnroe
Followed by
Championship Match Mark Philippoussis vs. Jim Courier
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships is a third-year event on the Champions Series tennis circuit, the New York-based global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, 14469 W. Paradise Lane and also online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
To be eligible to compete on the Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with the tournament champion earning $60,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin.
Former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston in May and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Former French Open semifinalist Fernando Meligeni of Brazil was the surprise winner of the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series, winning the title in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by defeating Philippoussis in the final.