Jim Courier had a mixture of
emotions over the weekend but at least he had another enjoyable time in Grand
Cayman, one of his favourite places in the world to play tennis.
Courier lost in Cayman for the
first time in the Champions Series but was still buoyant after being named
captain of the United States Davis Cup team a week earlier.
Courier had won the two previous
tournaments quite comfortably at the Dragon Bay Legends Championships and
started well on Friday by beating compatriot Aaron Krickstein 6-4, 6-4 in the
quarter-finals. But against Marat Safin on Saturday, despite playing few unforced
errors, the giant Russian had the edge throughout, winning 6-4, 6-4.
Former world class players have to
be over 30 to qualify for this tournament, which was for $120,000 prize money
and Safin only just qualifies – he is 31 in January. Multiple injuries forced
him to retire from the Association of Tennis Professionals tour in April. This
was his first competitive match since.
To be eligible to compete on the
Champions Series, players must also 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.
That defeat means Courier finishes
second in the year-long tournament to Australia’s Mark Philipoussis. Courier
went into the third place game against Jimmy Arias on Sunday afternoon (after
we had gone to press) and the final afterwards was between Stefan Edberg and
Safin. Edberg defeated Arias 6-4, 6-2 in the other semi on Saturday.
Apart from top quality matches, the
players gave coaching clinics at the Ritz-Carlton and Tennis Club in South
Sound and had a street tennis session for kids in George Town on Saturday
morning.
“I was definitely disappointed not
to be back in the final again,” Courier, 40, said. “But I needed to play to the
absolute maximum of my game and hope that Marat would be a little off his to
win. He is so powerful, so strong, he moves so well, so it’s a tough match up
for us all to play against him, but I put up a good fight and was very happy
with the way I competed and played.
“He’s a great player and fresh off
the ATP tour and he’s got a lot of game. I lost my serve early in both sets and
was never really able to get ahead with his serve.
“Marat hits the ball so hard and
flat that the wind wasn’t really that much of a factor on my ball toss. It was
very comfortable to play.
“It was a different formula this
year. The crowd was more all-inclusive. If you’re a member of the Champions
Club you were in and I thought the atmosphere was wonderful. Very enjoyable to
play.
“Unfortunately, Philipoussis is
going to finish No.1 in the tournament. He deserves it, he’s played well this
year. I’ve won the series a couple of years, Pete Sampras has won it another so
it’s changed up a little bit. This was Flip’s year.”
Related Videos
