‘Davis Cup Was a Place Where I Could Shine’ – Jim Courier Revisits His Iconic Underdog Triumph for America Over Hot Favorites Great Britain

The Davis Cup is on the line and to date, it has produced some match-winning triumphs and major heartbreaks as well. From unexpected wins to absolute drama, one can expect almost everything in the tournament. One such incident happened back in 1999 when a mediocre American side did one of the major turnarounds. Jim Courier, who was a crucial member of the American squad was struggling with form and nothing was going right for the American side.

Despite this, Jim Courier was able to pull off a stunner and help his side. In a recent revelation, he shares his opinion on how things went back then and what he had in mind while playing against some of the best players that the British team saw.

Jim Courier reflects on his greatest memory at the Davis Cup

In 1999, Jim Courier found himself at a turning point in his tennis career. While his individual ranking dipped, his gameplay remained evident, especially in the Davis Cup. The draw saw the United States against a formidable British team, with top-tier talents like Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. The challenge was tough, but Courier knew that he would have to pull up his best game.

The match against Rusedski epitomized a roller coaster ride for him as it went to the fifth set. Despite Courier’s ranking of 54th, he showed the spirit of a champion on the court. As the pressure mounted, Rusedski faltered, allowing Courier to capitalize on crucial returns and strategic plays.

“In 1999, my ranking had slipped. I was no longer a top player but I was still good at times and the Davis Cup was a place where I could really shine. In 1999 the United States drew Great Britain. The British team was pretty thick with top players like Tim Henman and Greg Rudeski, and they are a very very difficult team,” said Courier while talking about his greatest Davis Cup memory.

The match was a total roller coaster. I got an early jump, and Greg came fighting back. And he got us it to a fifth set and then the battle was on. He just got a bit tight, and I could make some returns in Play and ask him to hit second shots. We were jumping for joy and for us it was kind of magic,” he continued.

Thus, the will to keep going on and produce one of the best matches eventually led Team USA to clinch a major stunner over heavy favorites Great Britain. Despite not being in the best of forms, Jim Courier went ahead and stunned everyone while sparking waves in the tennis world. This win guaranteed them a spot in the quarter-finals of the tournament. However, they bowed out of the tournament later.

USA could not make it past the quarter-finals of the 1999 Davis Cup

The stage was all set for an emphatic quarter-final clash between USA and Australia. However, it was the Australian side who emerged victorious and clinched a much-needed win to secure a semi-final appearance. They later went ahead to win the title as well.

Also read: Why Is Novak Djokovic Obsessed With Davis Cup and Olympics?

As for the American side, their group stage hero Jim Courier fell short in front of Pat Rafter. The Australian player defeated him in straight sets and clinched a 2-0 lead. However, the duo of Pete Sampras and Alex O’Brian looked to bounce things up with a win.

However, their efforts were in vain as the Aussies came back stronger and won the tie 4-1. Thus, this marked an end to one of the most glorious campaigns for Jim Courier. Not only did his courage help him get some much-needed confidence but it also secured them a quarter-final appearance.

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