Jim Courier, playing his first Champions Series match since being named captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, defeated Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 6-4 Friday in the quarterfinals of the $120,000 The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships. Also advancing into the events semifinals Friday was Jimmy Arias, who defeated Mikael Pernfors by an identical 6-4, 6-4 score.
The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships is a third-year event on the Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
Playing in windy conditions, Courier and Krickstein locked themselves in a battle of consistency, each player trying to keep the ball in the court with slices and controlled shots. Courier proved to be the stronger player physically and mentally, breaking Kricksteins serve once in each set to secure the straight-set victory.
You just have to adjust to it, said Courier of the wind. You have to be quick on your feet. You have to make adjustments to the ball and be prepared for the ball to do anything.
Courier, named the 40th U.S. Davis Cup captain on October 27 by the U.S. Tennis Association, called his win over Krickstein a good confidence builder and knows he will be in for a stern test on Saturday when he faces Marat Safin in the semifinals.
This tournament this year is going to be tough for me to win, said Courier, the defending champion, but at least Ive gotten through the first one and well see how it goes.
Arias continued his history of playing well in Grand Cayman with his win over Pernfors. The former U.S. Davis Cupper posted his best two circuit results at The Residences at The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman, with a third-place finish in 2008 and a runner-up showing in 2009. In 2008, Arias posted his first win of any sort of John McEnroe in round-robin play while qualifying for the third-place match, where he beat Paul Haarhuis 7-6 (3), 2-6, 10-8 (Champions Tie-Break). In 2009, Arias took it a round further and advanced into his first career Champions Series final, beating Mats Wilander and Pat Cash in single-elimination play en route. Finally playing in his first Champions Series singles final in his 14th tournament appearance since the circuit began in 2005, Arias lost in the final to Courier 6-4, 6-2.
“I think that the clay helps,” said Arias on why he has played his best tennis in Grand Cayman. “I like playing on it and I wish there were more clay matches throughout the tour. I love it here. The crowd had a great response. It was a great tournament and it is a relaxing experience.”
Saturdays play begins at 2 pm with Courier facing Safin in the first semifinal, followed by Arias against Stefan Edberg. The schedule of play on Sunday, November 7 will feature the third-place match between the two losing semifinalists starting at 1 pm followed by the championship match.
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. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin. Courier won the 2009 edition of The Residences At the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships beating Arias in the final.
Earlier this year on the Champions Series circuit, former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe in May to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Philippoussis maintained his ranking by winning the title at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships in Surprise, Ariz., in October, defeating Courier in the final. 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 in March.