Jim Courier

 
Jim Courier (b. August 17 1970 in Sanford,
Florida) is a former World No. 1 professional
tennis player from the United States. During his
career he won four Grand Slam
singles titles – two at the French Open and
two at the Australian Open.

As a junior player in the 1980s, Courier attended
the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, and won the
prestigious Orange Bowl in 1986 and 1987, as well
as the French Open junior doubles title.

Courier turned professional in 1988 and made his
Grand Slam breakthrough in 1991 when he won the
French Open singles title, defeating his former
Bollettieri Academy-mate Andre Agassi in a
memorable five-set final. He also reached the
final of the US Open that year,
where he lost to Stefan Edberg.

1992 saw Courier win both the Australian Open and
French Open titles and enjoy a 25 match winning
streak. In February that year he became the tenth
player to reach the World No. 1 ranking since the
ranking system was implemented in 1973. He would
finish 1992 as the World No. 1 ranked player.
Courier was also a member of the US team which won
the 1992 Davis Cup.

1993 saw Courier claim the Australian Open title
again. He reached his third consecutive French
Open final, which he lost to Sergi Bruguera, and
also reached the 1993 Wimbledon final where he was
defeated by Pete Sampras.

Courier would again be part of a US Davis Cup
winning team in 1995.

Courier captured a total 23 singles titles and 6
doubles titles. He spent a total of 58 weeks
ranked as the World No. 1 in 1992 and 1993. A
consistent player on all surfaces, the
right-handed Courier was known for brandishing
brutal groundstrokes in defeating his opponents.
His powerful and accurate forehand was one of the
most feared shots on the tour during his time.

Courier was the first tour player to regularly
wear a baseball cap while on court. He was known
as being a huge baseball fan, his favorite team
having been the Cincinnati Reds.

Courier retired from the professional tour in
2000. He was inducted in the International Tennis
Hall of Fame, Newport, Rhode Island, in 2005.

Today, Courier serves as a tennis analyst for the
USA Network and NBC Sports and as an assistant
coach to Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe.

==Grand Slam finals==
===Wins (4)===
Year Championship Opponent in
Final Score in Final
1991 French Open Andre Agassi
3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
1992 Australian Open Stefan Edberg
6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
1992 French Open Petr Korda
7-5, 6-2, 6-1
1993 Australian Open Stefan Edberg
6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5

===Runner-ups (3)===
Year Championship Opponent in
Final Score in Final
1991 US Open Stefan Edberg
6-2, 6-4, 6-0
1993 French Open Sergi Bruguera
6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
1993 Wimbledon Pete Sampras
7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3