Courier's GS in 1992

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

So only one other year (besides his 1993 final obviously) you can point to a decent result. Thanks for proving my point.

You're using something called hindsight. Courier's Wimbledon results went from R128 in 1989, R32 in 1990 and QF in 1991. By the time of 1992 Wimbledon, Courier was clearly in better form than he'd ever been and had won the first 2 majors of 1992.

[jrepac]

Originally Posted by Mustard

Are you sure about that? In a Wimbledon final after Goran had beaten both Lendl and Sampras without even facing a break point in those matches? Goran had also beaten the tournament favourite, Edberg. Still, I was thinking this going into the actual final when Goran played Andre. All the evidence favoured Goran, as he was the serve and volleyer playing against a baseliner in a Wimbledon final, had been devastating serving form, and led 2-0 in the head-to-head against Agassi, yet Andre won.

Goran had also beaten Jim earlier in the year in the Stuttgart Indoor tournament, and was the only man to trouble Courier in any way during Courier's dominant 1992 French Open run. Goran was good enough to win the third set 6-2 against Courier and lead 4-1 in the fourth set in that tournament.

yeah, I think I'd favor Goran over Courier as well on the Wimby grass.

[SDN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlWmTqNpzRM

[Tobias Fünke]

My recollection is that his 3rd round loss was a huge upset but that he was not expected to win the tournament. Still, he was the dominant player of that time until the next year's French Open.

[hoodjem]

I know Courier was ranked no. 1 and thus seeded no. 1 at Wimbledon, but did anyone ever believe he was much of a grass-court player?

He certainly appeared to me to be a grinder (with a big forehand).

(In 1993 at Wimbledon, it appears he had lucky draw, but he did beat Todd Martin and Edberg on the way to the finals--where he met a great grass-courter and won only one set.)

[jaggy]

Damn I really thought this was earler and on grass, getting senile lol

Originally Posted by Mustard

That was on indoor hardcourt in 1999:

2nd-4th April 1999 - National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, Great Britain (UK vs. USA)

British team
Tim Henman (singles world number 7 - doubles world number 151)
Greg Rusedski (singles world number 11 - doubles world number 202)
Miles MacLagan (singles world number 295 - doubles world number 325)
Mark Hilton (singles world number 1,107 - doubles world number 1,284)

American team
Todd Martin (singles world number 8 - doubles world number 231)
Jim Courier (singles world number 54 - doubles world number 240)
Alex O'Brien (singles world number 171 - doubles world number 21)
Jan-Michael Gambill (singles world number 46 - doubles world number 214)


Friday 2nd April 1999
1st Rubber: Jim Courier def. Tim Henman (7-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5)
2nd Rubber: Todd Martin def. Greg Rusedski (6-4, 6-4, 6-2)

Saturday 3rd April 1999
3rd Rubber: Tim Henman/Greg Rusedski def. Todd Martin/Alex O'Brien (3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3)

Sunday 4th April 1999
4th Rubber: Tim Henman def. Todd Martin (4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6)
5th Rubber: Jim Courier def. Greg Rusedski (6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 1-6, 8-6)


A few months later at 1999 Wimbledon, Henman and Courier met in the Round of 16. Henman won 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7, 9-7, after saving 3 match points.

[eric draven]

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

I've got a question for fans who have been watching tennis for more than 20 years. Was there any hype about Courier winning the CYGS in 1992 after he scored in the Australian and French Opens?

I remember there being a lot of talk about it but it didn't seem like anyone believed he had the game to win Wimbledon going into that year's tournament. I do remember that he was all-out intimidating and half the matches I watched the guy he was playing was already psyched out before the first serve was hit. Overall, he had a great 2-1/2 year run.

[nadalwon2012]

There also wasn't much hype about Agassi winning 27 of 28 grand slam matches-
99 RG won
99 WIM final
99 USO won
2000 AO won

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by nadalwon2012

There also wasn't much hype about Agassi winning 27 of 28 grand slam matches-
99 RG won
99 WIM final
99 USO won
2000 AO won

People would mention Sampras' absence through a back injury from the 1999 US Open when he was the pre-tournament favourite. Sampras gave Agassi some brutal beatdowns in 1999, the Wimbledon final being an obvious one, but also the last world championships final in Hannover.

[nadalwon2012]

Originally Posted by Mustard

People would mention Sampras' absence through a back injury from the 1999 US Open when he was the pre-tournament favourite. Sampras gave Agassi some brutal beatdowns in 1999, the Wimbledon final being an obvious one, but also the last world championships final in Hannover.

True, but at least Agassi beat Sampras in the 2000 AO semis. But absolutely, beating Sampras at the US Open seemed virtually impossible for Agassi. Agassi could never stretch Sampras to that 5th set in their US Open meetings, and hence it is unlikely Agassi would have achieved it in 1999 UNLESS Sampras was injured and made the final, and he was injured. Yes, Sampras' 99 Wimbledon final is the best performance maybe ever at Wimbledon.

[chmee]

I was rooting him back then, but I never believed he could win Wimbledeon with all those other guys around.