Thanks for the great memories over the years Jim, including your career as a tennis player and as well as a tennis commentator which still continues. I got a bit emotional seeing you finally having your chance to present the Australian Open trophy in the finals ceremony. You really deserved having that honour and it couldn't have happened to a deserving AO champion, a champion in general, and a nice and humble guy overall.
He was my favorite player. I followed him till the end of his career, though after mid 90s he wasn’t at the same level. But I kept supporting him. I always remember 3 matches Aus Open QF’ 95, French Open QF’96 and Aus Open QF’96 or 97. The first 2 he lost against Sampras after being 2 sets up and 3rd one was against Agassi, again after being 2 sets up. I think after having not so great ‘94 he tried hard to come back at the top in 95 and 96. But these 3 matches and probably a couple of such matches during those years kinda broke him for good. There on he found it difficult to keep up with Sampras, Agassi and others. Anyways his forehand was awesome and he always seemed like a great guy.
As I sit and watch this, I still have Courier's poster on my wall that I bought 20 years ago... His toughness, both mental and physical, and his power tennis are what 90's tennis was about. I will never forget how he trained where he towed a tire with a rope tied around his waist AFTER some "easy" matches...
Yes, especially because he didn't exactly do during a weak spot. Agassi and Sampras were emerging, Becker and Edberg were on top of their games, Ivan Lendl was still playing well, Chang was starting to make noise, etc.
It’s hard to believe that he won 4 grand slams, yet he’s forgotten by so many people. everybody remembers Sampras, Agassi, Becker, Chang, and even rafter, but not that many people remember courier for some reason, I think he’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time I think is definitely top 30.
The same thing with Sergi Berasategui, he won two grand slam titles at the French Open yet he’s forgotten by so many people. He’s only well-known nowadays for coaching Alexander Zverev, and being the guy that was defeated by Gustavo Kuerten.
My Favorite tennis player. Have seen most of his matches during my school days. He was the king of the Clay Courts. He also liked hard courts. On grass he even was in the final of Wimbledon once. Lost to Sampras then.
@@DanielBoonelight 😂 Zverev has already been a year end top 10 player the same number of times as Nalbandian, has more titles in every category, and is still on the rise
@@fedwrld7617 no, he isn't. check back in half a year dude. if you think he won't be ranked lower than now, you seriously don't know jack about tennis.
I am Swedish. Of all the great Americans in the 90s Jim Courier was my favourite because of his way of play and his baseball hat. Second favourite might actually be Michael Chang.
Played Junior tennis when Jim did...Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd be top 100 on the ATP.....In Juniors his serve and Forehand were enough....WHen he won 18's Orange Bowl I was still not thinking he'd be a top pro.....His focus and determination were 2nd to none....
A unique and unorthodox champion. World no 1. Four grand slams plus finals in the US and Wimbledon. Youngest player ever to reach the final of all four grand slams (a title he still holds today ). ATP world champion finalist for 2 years. Davis cup captain and star player. During his peak years in 92/93 he was one of the top 3 consistent players in the world and outgunned Agassi consistently throughout his carrier He rode to glory on a single trademark shot, inside out forehand (IOF). Even his serve was an improvisation of this shot. All other aspects of his back-court game ( particularly his backhand ) were simply meant to keep the rally long enough for him to get a chance to unleash his trademark. Highly effective particularly if hit from the mid court area. Technically speaking he got massive leverage on this shot via a combination of firm yet extended wrist rotation and by transferring his weight to the ball via synchronized hip rotation.This he self improvised taking base approach he learnt at Bollettieri an combining it with baseball He hit hard but the ball didn't always travel as fast as anticipated and often fell short in the opponent's court, but it had a unique topspin trajectory, traveling about 10% higher and bouncing about 10% more and a sharper topspin trajectory compared to any other top 10 players during his era. The opponent was forced to hit ground-strokes close to chest height rather than hip height, making the return often mistimed or weak , something Jim effectively capitalized and hit a winner via a follow up IOF Another advantage of his inside out forehand the ability to drive opponents way off court, particularly when hit wide angle from the from the ad court. French open finals 1992 is a good example However By 1993 most top 10 players figured this out and it didn't remain as effective a weapon. At that point Jim could have taken a year off pro-tennis and improvised to hit the ball a about 10% deeper and won a few more grand slams But even at peak ( 92/93) he did have a habit of letting off gas turbine a little bit when on top ( something his opponents capitalized like Boris Becker who was let of on multiple match points at 1992 Bruxelles ). This costed him like 4-5 titles But i guess given the personality that he is he was satiated by that time and wanted to move on to other aspects in life like reading books or launching the veteran tennis circuit Jim if you're reading this you are a champion indeed and a huge role model!🙂
I used to really dislike this guy when I was young in the early 90's. His style of play was so... American. So baseball. Didn't belong within tennis. 30 years on, and the guy is one of my absolute favourite players of all time. His style of play having been so... American. So baseball.
Thanks for the great memories over the years Jim, including your career as a tennis player and as well as a tennis commentator which still continues. I got a bit emotional seeing you finally having your chance to present the Australian Open trophy in the finals ceremony. You really deserved having that honour and it couldn't have happened to a deserving AO champion, a champion in general, and a nice and humble guy overall.
One hundred percent perfect
I saw him interview at laver cup I’m still a huge fan and love to see Jim
He's also the youngest man to reach the final of every Grand Slam. Achieved it at the age of 22!
interesting stats
He was my favorite player. I followed him till the end of his career, though after mid 90s he wasn’t at the same level. But I kept supporting him. I always remember 3 matches Aus Open QF’ 95, French Open QF’96 and Aus Open QF’96 or 97. The first 2 he lost against Sampras after being 2 sets up and 3rd one was against Agassi, again after being 2 sets up. I think after having not so great ‘94 he tried hard to come back at the top in 95 and 96. But these 3 matches and probably a couple of such matches during those years kinda broke him for good. There on he found it difficult to keep up with Sampras, Agassi and others. Anyways his forehand was awesome and he always seemed like a great guy.
As I sit and watch this, I still have Courier's poster on my wall that I bought 20 years ago...
His toughness, both mental and physical, and his power tennis are what 90's tennis was about.
I will never forget how he trained where he towed a tire with a rope tied around his waist AFTER some "easy" matches...
Great player and my favorite commentator.
13k views for this legend?????? If I have to watch this video 100k times I will. If you watched tennis in the 90s you know Jim didn’t mess!!!!!!!
Jim looks like he aged maybe 10yrs in 30yrs.
damn, jim has aged quite a bit in the last 3-4 years
Just what happen after? He was the best
Not sure exactly what you mean, but as far as Jim's ability to maintain a #1 rank, Pete Sampras hit his peak form in 1993.
@@machineofadream I am sad that he did not win more grand slams after AO 1993.
Courier’s high school degree is painfully evident.
What do you mean?
Long lost brother of Gordon Ramsay
He has aged so well in comparison to a lot of his contemporaries. Very underrated world number 1.
He looks better now than in 1992 tbh
Yes, especially because he didn't exactly do during a weak spot. Agassi and Sampras were emerging, Becker and Edberg were on top of their games, Ivan Lendl was still playing well, Chang was starting to make noise, etc.
He looks exactly the same. Crazy.
Sampras Agassi Courier Chang America had some great players In the 90s
It’s hard to believe that he won 4 grand slams, yet he’s forgotten by so many people. everybody remembers Sampras, Agassi, Becker, Chang, and even rafter, but not that many people remember courier for some reason, I think he’s one of the greatest tennis players of all time I think is definitely top 30.
Facts 💯
@@lukey1210 i’m glad you agree.
The same thing with Sergi Berasategui, he won two grand slam titles at the French Open yet he’s forgotten by so many people. He’s only well-known nowadays for coaching Alexander Zverev, and being the guy that was defeated by Gustavo Kuerten.
@pleaseenteraname1103 You mean Bruguera. Berasategui only made 1 French final, no championship win there
I can just hear Elliot Loney's voice saying: "Let's hear it for Jim Courier rightaboutnow. "
My Favorite tennis player. Have seen most of his matches during my school days. He was the king of the Clay Courts. He also liked hard courts. On grass he even was in the final of Wimbledon once. Lost to Sampras then.
ur my fave commentator on tennis channel ! fun, cute and smart....
Zverev? Not a chance if he continues to flop in the best of 5 set format!
no chance. he'll be a nalbandian with no grand slams, less variety, and less remembered.
@@DanielBoonelight 😂
Zverev has already been a year end top 10 player the same number of times as Nalbandian, has more titles in every category, and is still on the rise
@@fedwrld7617 no, he isn't. check back in half a year dude. if you think he won't be ranked lower than now, you seriously don't know jack about tennis.
@@DanielBoonelight he'll probably be right behind Nadal and medvedev
I am Swedish. Of all the great Americans in the 90s Jim Courier was my favourite because of his way of play and his baseball hat. Second favourite might actually be Michael Chang.
I was 15 when Jim my fav player became the no1 player ❤
Played Junior tennis when Jim did...Never in my wildest dreams did I think he'd be top 100 on the ATP.....In Juniors his serve and Forehand were enough....WHen he won 18's Orange Bowl I was still not thinking he'd be a top pro.....His focus and determination were 2nd to none....
A unique and unorthodox champion. World no 1. Four grand slams plus finals in the US and Wimbledon. Youngest player ever to reach the final of all four grand slams (a title he still holds today ). ATP world champion finalist for 2 years. Davis cup captain and star player. During his peak years in 92/93 he was one of the top 3 consistent players in the world and outgunned Agassi consistently throughout his carrier
He rode to glory on a single trademark shot, inside out forehand (IOF). Even his serve was an improvisation of this shot. All other aspects of his back-court game ( particularly his backhand ) were simply meant to keep the rally long enough for him to get a chance to unleash his trademark. Highly effective particularly if hit from the mid court area.
Technically speaking he got massive leverage on this shot via a combination of firm yet extended wrist rotation and by transferring his weight to the ball via synchronized hip rotation.This he self improvised taking base approach he learnt at Bollettieri an combining it with baseball
He hit hard but the ball didn't always travel as fast as anticipated and often fell short in the opponent's court, but it had a unique topspin trajectory, traveling about 10% higher and bouncing about 10% more and a sharper topspin trajectory compared to any other top 10 players during his era.
The opponent was forced to hit ground-strokes close to chest height rather than hip height, making the return often mistimed or weak , something Jim effectively capitalized and hit a winner via a follow up IOF
Another advantage of his inside out forehand the ability to drive opponents way off court, particularly when hit wide angle from the from the ad court. French open finals 1992 is a good example
However By 1993 most top 10 players figured this out and it didn't remain as effective a weapon. At that point Jim could have taken a year off pro-tennis and improvised to hit the ball a about 10% deeper and won a few more grand slams
But even at peak ( 92/93) he did have a habit of letting off gas turbine a little bit when on top ( something his opponents capitalized like Boris Becker who was let of on multiple match points at 1992 Bruxelles ). This costed him like 4-5 titles
But i guess given the personality that he is he was satiated by that time and wanted to move on to other aspects in life like reading books or launching the veteran tennis circuit
Jim if you're reading this you are a champion indeed and a huge role model!🙂
Jim is the biggest what if player In men’s tennis. So so talented.
Jim the best sweet memories
this guy is an american legend
Jim is over-exposed now
I used to really dislike this guy when I was young in the early 90's.
His style of play was so... American. So baseball.
Didn't belong within tennis.
30 years on, and the guy is one of my absolute favourite players of all time.
His style of play having been so... American. So baseball.
Dudes in Berlin know how to dress now