COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 6, 1996

Jim Courier

JIM COURIER: By walking to the other side when you double-faulted. I mean, I don't control his serve, you know. When a player doesn't serve well, you try and take advantage of it as best you can. That's what I tried to do today.

JIM COURIER: He's very effective off the ground. He's normally very effective with his serve. I didn't see the stats of the match yesterday, but I don't think he serve add very high percentage of first serves, seemed like he had a lot of double-faults.

JIM COURIER: I'm just trying to basically try and keep a high level like I was playing out there in the first set, early in the second set, just try and maintain it. Basically if I can maintain and level and maintain it, the whole match, it's going to be very difficult for someone to beat me.

JIM COURIER: It gets a little old sometimes, them disrupting the flow of the match. They mean well. They're very supportive. I'm glad they're there, don't get me wrong. But a lot of times I'm ready to play the points and they're still clapping. It disrupts the flow of the match. I'm not a kid at this. I mean, I've been doing this a while. I understand that that happens. I need to be stronger when that happens and not let it bother me. I think that was just frustration.

JIM COURIER: No. No, not at all. I try and play at a constant speed every match I play. Some players like to serve faster than others in between points. I always have a ritual that I follow in between points.

JIM COURIER: I'm here by myself.

JIM COURIER: No. I'm usually traveling with somebody. Like I said, I'm a big boy these days, all of 26 years old. I think I can swing a week in Europe by myself. I've done it before. It's actually quite pleasurable to have a week by myself and kind of go where the wind blows me.

JIM COURIER: No, not at all. Actually I think there are moments when it's appropriate to go to discos, if that's something that interests you, basketball games, whatever hobbies you have. I don't think you can just eat, sleep and live tennis. You have to have other things. I always have. But there is a time and a place for everything. Certainly at Frankfurt last year, I didn't go to the disco until I was out of the tournament. Certainly that's the case here. I'm very tunnel visioned at the moment when it comes to taking my tennis seriously and doing the right things, being in bed at the right time when it's time to be there. But tonight, you know, let's go find a disco (laughter). I have about 12 more hours and my plane will be leaving. Certainly no reason to sleep, is there?

JIM COURIER: No. I mean, I would relish an opportunity to play Boris here in the final. I'm disappointed that I'm not there. Those are the matches you play for, where it seems like the whole world is against you. I love match situations like that.

JIM COURIER: Well, it certainly hasn't been the best year of my career. It's been a pretty trying year on all fronts for me in my life. It's been a very long year. I'm hopeful that this next year is going to be a little bit more pleasant for me.

JIM COURIER: It would be quite hypocritical for me to Slam them for not coming, seeing as I missed four years running that I qualified. I think obviously if they could be here and they were physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to be here, they would be. They've all played here in the past. I think for whatever reason, injuries or fatigue or lack -- need of a rest. I think I certainly commiserate with those guys, because I'm been there. They're doing what they feel is right for themselves at this point in time. It's too bad for a tournament like this that has normally such a strong field to miss a couple of the top players. I don't think come tomorrow that there will be too much complaining about the quality of tennis with the field there in the semis.