World Tennis Magazine

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fifth game

Courier Gets Nod as U.S. Davis Cup Captain

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By Bob Stockton

Jim Courier was named captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team Wednesday by the U.S. Tennis Association, replacing Patrick McEnroe, who resigned after 10 years as skipper of America’s national tennis team.

Courier, age 40, becomes the 40th man to serve as captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, 11 years after ending an illustrious Davis Cup career that saw him help the United States to Davis Cup titles in 1992 and 1995. He played Davis Cup for the U.S. for seven years (1991-1992, 1994-1995, 1997-1999), posting a 17-10 record (16-10 in singles, 1-0 in doubles).

Jim Courier

The two-time French and Australian Open champion and Hall of Famer was part of the famous “Dream Team” of himself, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe that beat Switzerland 3-1 in the 1992 Davis Cup Final in Ft. Worth, Texas. He helped the U.S. win again in 1995 when he was a member of the U.S. team that beat Russia in Moscow 3-2. Courier once called Davis Cup tennis “as pure as it comes” and also boasted “the Davis Cup and Grand Slams are the two reasons I get up every morning and strap on my shoes and practice.”

He was labeled “the new Mr. Davis Cup” by John McEnroe after heroic Davis Cup efforts in winning inspirational five-set matches in fifth-and decisive matches in 1998 against Russia and in 1999 against Great Britain. In 1998 against Russia, Courier overcame a 0-6, 1-4 deficit to defeat 18-year-old Marat Safin 0-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the fifth and decisive match as the United States defeats Russia 3-2 in the Davis Cup first round in Stone Mountain, Ga. Safin, a relative unknown at the time, easily dictated play from the start, stunning Courier, U.S. Captain Tom Gullikson and all observers. On the changeover after the fifth game of the second set, Gullikson and Courier discussed a strategy change – Gullikson suggesting a change of pace, thrown in with some off-pace slices. A shell-shocked Courier told Gullikson, “He’s blowing the ball right through me. I’m having a hard time changing the pace.” Courier’s slices and short balls dramatically changed the tempo of the match as Courier rallied for the inspired victory. Days after the win, Courier provides perspective on the match, stating, “It is a memory I want to carry with me as long as I can. That was one of the more special matches, having had a couple of days to reflect on it now that I have really played in my career. I want to take as much from that match as I can. I dug myself out of a really deep hole and just kept fighting and kept thinking and really came up with the good shots when I needed them out there.”

In 1999 against Great Britain, in one of the most dramatic conclusions ever in a Davis Cup tie, Courier defeated Greg Rusedski 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 1-6, 8-6 in the fifth and decisive match to clinch a 3-2 win for the United States against Great Britain in the first round of the Centennial year of the competition in Birmingham, England. On day one of the competition two days earlier, Courier gave the United States an early 1-0 lead, defeating Tim Henman 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (10), 7-5. In all, Courier, ranked No. 54 in the ATP Tour rankings at the time, was on court for 7 hours, 58 minutes for his victories over the No. 7-ranked Henman and No. 11-ranked Rusedski. Of Courier’s win over Rusedski, Bud Collins of the Boston Globe wrote, “Seldom, if ever, in the 100 years of the sterling crock’s existence has an American guy come through as brawny James Spencer Courier did last night in helping the U.S. seize the 3-2 triumph at the extreme limits of the game – tail end of the fifth set of the fifth match of the best-of-five series.”

Incredibly, when Courier was placed in the line-up for the U.S. Davis Cup team, the team posted an incredible 13-1 record, the lone loss coming in Courier’s Cup finale, a 4-1 loss to Australia in the 1999 Davis Cup quarterfinals in Boston.

His first assignment will be in an away match against Chile, March 4-6 in a match that will likely not feature 2006 Australian Open finalist Fernando Gonzalez, who is out of action through at least June with a hip injury. Should the United States win this match, they will likely draw Spain in the United States, July 8-10 (the week after Wimbledon and the week of Andre Agassi’s induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame), should Spain also advance by defeating Belgium in a home match in March. John Isner and Sam Querrey will likely be the horses he rides in his quest to help the U.S. win back the Cup it won in 2007. He will also may look to bring Andy Roddick back into the Davis Cup fold, while also looking at the Bryan twins – Bob and Mike – to continue to set Davis Cup records in doubles.

Courier is a resident of New York City and is incidentally the third straight Manhattanite to serve as U.S. Davis Cup captain after 2000 captain and upper West Sider John McEnroe and downtown resident Patrick McEnroe. He runs and plays on the SoHo-based Champions Series tennis circuit and co-owns the sports marketing company InsideOut Sports & Entertainment.

The former resident of Dade City, Fla., holds U.S. Davis Cup records for most five set singles matches player (7, tied with John McEnroe), most five-set singles victories (5), Most fifth-and-decisive matches played (3, tied with Vic Seixas), most victories in fifth-and-decisive matches (3), most five-set victories in fifth-and-decisive matches (2).

Philippoussis Picks up Winning Ways in Surprise

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Mark Philippoussis continued his winning ways on the Champions Series Wednesday, defeating Aaron Krickstein 6-3, 6-2 in the opening night of round-robin play at the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex. Jim Courier also won his opening round-robin match Wednesday night, defeating Jeff Tarango 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-4 (Champions Tie-Breaker).

Philippoussis enters the 2010 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series circuit after reaching the final of the year’s opening event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and winning the title in Boston in May.

Against Krickstein, Philippoussis played patiently from the baseline and carefully chose his opportunities to attack and approach the net. Krickstein lead 3-1 in the first round, but Philippoussis was able to win five games in a row to take the first set, sealing the set with a booming ace out wide on set point. In the second set, the Australian broke Krickstein’s serve in the opening game and again in the fifth game to take a 4-1 lead. After Krickstein gained one service break back the next game, Philippoussis then won the final two games of the match, sealing the second set with another ace.

Mark Philippoussis

“Aaron is a brick wall and he makes you earn every point,” said Philippoussis, who registered eight aces in the match. “Luckily, I just got into a groove.”

Said Krickstein, “The momentum in tennis can swing unbelievably. He picked up his game at three-all in the first set. It was kind of a snowball.”

Philippoussis first joined the Champions Series circuit in 2007 after recovering from right knee surgery early in the year that curtailed his comeback on to the ATP World Tour. He was unable to play competitive tennis in 2008, due to continued knee problems, but returned to the Champions Series in 2009. He reached his first career Champions Series singles final earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro, losing in an upset to Brazilian hometown favorite Fernando Meligeni. The Australian, however, won his first career Champions Series title in Boston in May, defeating John McEnroe in the final. His best ATP World Tour-level results came in finishing as the runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1998, losing to Patrick Rafter, and losing to Roger Federer in the 2003 Wimbledon final.

During his multi-year rehabilitation, he underwent six knee surgeries – three on the right knee and three on the left – but this year, he is finally beginning to feel at full strength. “This is about going out there and having fun and building strength on my body and my knee,” said Philippoussis earlier this year. “This is about getting matches and getting on the court and doing what I love doing.”

In the late match, Tarango gave a scare into the Hall of Famer Courier, winning the first-set in a tie-breaker, but falling 10-4 in the Champions Tie-Breaker, a first-to-10-point tie-breaker played in lieu of a third set. Courier hit three aces in the Champions Tie-Breaker and controlled play from the baseline with a variety of deep top-spin forehands and controlling low backhand slices.

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships is the third event on the 2010 Champions Series circuit, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. Thursday’s play is highlighted by Michael Chang taking on Jimmy Arias at 7 pm followed by John McEnroe against Wayne Ferreira.

The schedule of play for the tournament is as follows:

Thursday, October 21

Starting at 7 pm
Michael Chang vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Wayne Ferreira

Friday, October 22

Starting at 2 pm
Mark Philippoussis vs. Jimmy Arias
Followed by
Michael Chang vs. Aaron Krickstein
Starting at 7 pm
Jim Courier vs. Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
John McEnroe vs. Jeff Tarango

Saturday, October 23

Starting at Noon
Jimmy Arias vs. Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jeff Tarango vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
Michael Chang vs. Mark Philippoussis
Starting at 7 pm
John McEnroe vs. Jim Courier
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jimmy Arias vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Wayne Ferreira vs. Jeff Tarango

Sunday, October 24

Starting at Noon
Third Place Match
Followed by
Championship Match

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.

LENDL LOSES TO WILANDER IN FIRST PUBLIC MATCH IN 16 YEARS

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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Ivan Lendl, playing in his first public match since retiring from tennis in 1994, played like a man who hadn’t played in 16 years, losing to former rival Mats Wilander 6-3 in a one-set exhibition at the Caesars Tennis Classic Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.

“It was fun playing, but a bit frustrating,” Lendl said. “I was seeing the shot but couldn’t make myself hit it properly.”

Lendl, whose stellar accomplishments are often overlooked, Lendl had disappeared from the tennis scene since retiring because of a bad back. With his back healthier, Lendl began playing more seriously recently, saying he “put a lot of training” into preparing for Saturday’s match.

“He said, ‘Next time I will be better,”‘ Wilander said.

Ivan Lendl
Ivan Lendl

Asked if his performance was what he expected, the 50-year-old Lendl said, “Pretty much, unfortunately.”

“My heart was telling me it’s not going to be like this,” he said, “but my mind was telling me yes it could and most likely would.”

Only Roger Federer has played more Grand Slam men’s singles finals than Lendl’s 19 (Federer has played 22). A winner of eight major finals (three French, three U.S. Opens and two Australian Opens), Lendl was ranked No. 1 in the world for 157 straight weeks from 1985-88.

Lendl and Wilander came out in typical style with both playing from behind the baseline, just as they did in two marathon U.S. Open finals in 1987 and ’88, which they split. Wilander’s five-set victory over Lendl in ’88 took four hours, 55 minutes, setting a record for the longest U.S. Open men’s singles final.

After a long rally on the game’s second point, Lendl jokingly asked the 47-year-old Wilander, “Are you tired yet?”

The laughter subsided midway through the set, and both competitors appeared to turn serious. Wilander took control in the fifth game when Lendl committed four unforced errors, giving Wilander the match’s first break and a 3-2 lead.

Wilander held serve for a 4-2 lead and went ahead 5-2 with another break when Lendl found the net with a forehand on the clinching point. The match ended, fittingly, when Lendl hit a forehand volley into the net.

“It was fun playing,” Lendl said. “It was nice to have a good crowd. I wish I could have hit more good shots, but unfortunately that won’t come all at once.”

While he wouldn’t commit to more exhibition matches or, possibly, a comeback to the Champions Tour, Lendl said his back was feeling better and alluded to playing again competitively.

“I enjoy practicing and I didn’t enjoy it before because of my back,” he said. “Now I’m fine.”

In another match, Marat Safin defeated Pete Sampras 6-4. Andy Roddick also beat Sampras 6-4 before topping Safin 6-4.

IN-FORM CILIC MAINTAINS WINNING WAYS

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Dubai, UAE, February 23rd, 2010 – Croatia’s Marin Cilic continued his winning ways this year by defeating Arnaud Clement of France 6-2 6-4 to reach the second round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.

The number six seed has now won 16 matches this year, claiming titles in Chennai and Zagreb, with his only defeat coming against Andy Murray in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. This month he celebrated reaching the world’s top 10 for the first time.

It was no surprise then that he put in a solid performance against Clement and didn’t face a break point until the final game. He got off to a perfect start by breaking serve to love in the opening game, and then solidified his advantage by breaking again for 5-2 and then serving out the set at love and finishing with an ace.

A Clement double-fault gave Cilic a break for 3-2 in the second set, and he held a further break point to lead 5-2. He failed to take advantage of that opportunity, and Clement then had the chance to extend the match when he held five break points to level at 5-5.

But Cilic rose to the challenge, saving three of those break points with aces before finally ending the contest with his seventh ace of the match.

Indian qualifier Somdev Devvarman also reached the second round and a meeting with Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis by overcoming Italian-speaking Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 6-4 7-5.

Just one break of serve decided the first set after Devvarman took a 2-1 lead. He then had to be patient in the second, holding off a break point when down 3-2 before breaking his opponent for a 6-5 lead and serving out the match to love.

Germany’s Michael Berrer also advanced, defeating Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-4 7-6.
Berrer had a tough time holding his first service game for 1-1, holding off three break points before finally holding the 20-point game with his fifth game point.

He then broke to lead 4-3 and that was enough to give him the set, and he broke again at the start of the second set and held to lead 2-0. And although Stakhovsky recovered the break to level at 3-3, Berrer dominated the tiebreak to win it 7-3.

Federer Loses And Qualifies For London Semifinals

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Juan Martin Del Potro beat Roger Federer in a three-set thriller Thursday to scrape into the ATP World Tour Finals semis with Federer by the tightest of margins.

Juan Martin Del Potro
Juan Martin Del Potro

The Argentine beat the Swiss world number one 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 in two hours and six minutes at London’s O2 Arena, and only just earned himself a spot in the last four at the agonising expense of Britain’s Andy Murray.

Federer won the group, but with Del Potro and Murray both having won five sets to four in their three Group A matches, it went down to their games record.

The Argentine went through to the semifinals by a margin of one, his 45 games won to 43 lost record bettering the 44-43 of Murray.

Throughout the match, ATP statisticians were furiously calculating who was going through to the semi-finals.

“It’s an incredible moment, my first Masters semifinal, I’ve nothing to lose,” said Del Potro, who lost his first six matches to Federer, before winning his last two matches, including the US Open final in September.

Del Potro won the toss and chose to receive. The decision paid off immediately as the 21-year-old reached break point three times in the opening game, taking it on the third deuce.

The French Open and Wimbledon champion took Del Potro to deuce next game but the Argentine held serve. The world number one served the following game to love.

Del Potro held serve and then earned a break point with a forehand cross-court winner, taking the fifth game when Federer double-faulted.

The Swiss kept charging to the net next game but was beaten by Del Potro’s lobs, leaving him serving to stay in the set at 5-1 down.

Federer held serve with some impressive shots, including a dash to the net that paid off.

But Del Potro — being supported by his friend Carlos Tevez, the Argentina and Manchester City footballer — took the set next game with two serves that Federer could not return.

The Argentine held break point in the first game of the second set. However, Federer took it to deuce with a lucky net shot that clipped the tape, then won the game.

The next eight games went with serve, including two service games from Federer and one from Del Potro to love.

Federer’s range of deft shots and smashes had the better of Del Potro on the Swiss star’s serve but the Argentine was nonetheless giving his opponent few chances to break.

Del Potro held serve at 5-4 down to stay in the set. Both players took their next service games to love, forcing the tie break.

Del Potro broke for a 3-1 lead in a duel at the net. Federer broke back with a forehand winner down the line for 3-4 behind.

Federer broke again when Del Potro dumped a simple return into the net and broke once more as a sliced shot caught the Argentine out.

At set point, Federer held serve with a cross-court forehand and celebrated staying in the match.

Del Potro won the first game of the final set to love, then Federer held serve with some cunning soft shots.

Federer won the sixth game to love, meaning that at 3-3 with the Swiss mathematically through to the semi-finals whatever the result, Del Potro would be out if he lost a game.

In the next game, Federer earned his first break points, but Del Potro kept his hopes alive, crucially winning the second deuce.

The Argentine then held three break points thanks to a double fault and took a 5-3 lead when Federer shot wide.

Del Potro then served for the match and won it with an ace to go through to the semis in thrilling fashion.