THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 28, 1997

Jim Courier

JOE LYNCH: A man who needs no introduction, Jim Courier, who is ready for your first question.

JIM COURIER: Clearly, yeah. I don't know how many I had, but it was enough. Thomas played very well on the big points. That's the difference, one break, a set, match. If I had my chances and I don't take him, he takes his, it's 3 and 4, I'm sitting here talking to you now.

JIM COURIER: I'm not a betting man.

JIM COURIER: Well, they've all been different for various reasons. He's playing better and better as I've played him. Each match he's playing better and better. He's been winning a lot of matches and he must be feeling pretty confident. Once again, as I was saying before, if I win one or two points here or there, it's a totally different mind frame. It's easy to swing from the hip when you're up a break; it's a little bit more difficult when it's 4-All, 5-All, to go for those shots.

JIM COURIER: I think I played well this week. It was a good bit of a turnaround for me because I had a few weeks where I'd been -- I hadn't had the best results, I was a little bit tired maybe from overplaying early in the season. This was a good turnaround week. I beat some good players here, got some good confidence. You know, I'm looking forward to Davis Cup next week, hopefully representing America pretty well.

JIM COURIER: I don't think there's really much difference right now. I mean, I think when you say I had him in the pocket, yeah, I was beating him and winning the matches fairly handily. Once again, fairly handily on paper. 3 and 4 match looks fairly handily. Clearly, when you're actually playing the match it's a couple points here or there. The person who is a little more confident takes control. Right now he's playing with a lot of confidence. I look forward to our next match. Hopefully I'll get him back. My pocket is plenty big. I have plenty of room.

JIM COURIER: No. I think he's just doing everything a little bit better.

JIM COURIER: Good enough.