Tennis Prose




Jan/25

27

Courier’s Old Coach Shares Memories

Sergio Augusto Cruz was the coach of Jim Courier on the climb up the rankings from young American prospect out of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy to Grand Slam champion. Cruz shared some of his standout memories of the journey he shared with Courier…

“Twice I had Jim within a point of ATP no. 8 ranking. Because I believed my mission with Jim was to help him become an eclectic tennis player and based on the trust and work we had done. In Philadelphia (1990 QF) I signaled at match point – for no. 8 in the world – to serve and volley. Jim did it and surprised Mark Kratzmann and got an easy set-up high forehand put away volley, that Jim hit to sponsor’s car about 20 meter out of the court. It’s all a process…” (Courier lost that match 64 36 67.)

“In Gstaad (1990) I signaled at match point – for no. 8 in the world – to serve and volley. Jim did it and this time surprised Martin Jaite and got an easy put away back hand volley crosscourt to the open court. Jim went down the line to Jaite and missed by a few inches. That’s is the way the ball rolls. Today 30 years plus later, I would do the same…” (Courier lost that match 63 67 46.)

“Then in Basel Open (1989 final) against ferocious serve and volley no. 1 Stefan Edberg… after losing three match points trying to pass Stefan on the sides, Jim looked at me – I was hiding in the crowd with his knowledge – I got up and pointed my finger three times at my stomach. Jim understood, next return jammed Stefan to the body, complicated backhand volley short and slow, Jim top spin lob finished the deal, game set and match in five sets. You win some you lose some.” (Courier won that match 76 36 26 60 75.)

“In Roland Garros against Agassi, I knew the first set winner would win the match. So I prodded Jim to a slug fest, ‘Get inside the court, control the center and overpower André.’ So Jim he did it. It was Jim’s moment of truth and to prove to Bollettieri, Nike and many of his detractors what was coming.”

“As a coach, to gain the trust of your pupil in a win or defeat, you must stick consistently to the essence of what you believe in, even if that means to be alone. I could write a book on this but death is nearing me and I have to care for my loved ones. It was a privilege.”

Jim Courier won his first Grand Slam title at French Open in 1991 and became ATP world no. 1 on Feb 10, 1992. He won four Grand Slam titles overall and 23 overall titles on Tour from 1988-1999.

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3 comments

  • Steve · January 30, 2025 at 8:35 am

    It’s a mark of a great player to be willing to try something different in a big match if it makes sense and what they’ve done before hasn’t worked. Ash dipping short balls at Connor’s feet to win a Wimby, Fed finally ripping backhands with a new racquet in an Aussie against Federer

    I was actually sad for Zverev seeing him play into a foreshadowed doom of slam final failure. But there he was, an amalgam of bad decisions (creating his own bad fortune by dismissing three legendary tennis coaches and former players before they could even help him) superficial conceit and false bravado. “I’m just not good enough.” -was his analysis. Not good enough? You defeated Djokovic to win a gold medal, you have masters 1000s. You only have to be good enough for three or four or five hours to get a slam and be willing to die on the court for it.

  • Steve · January 30, 2025 at 8:36 am

    It’s a mark of a great player to be willing to try something different in a big match if it makes sense and what they’ve done before hasn’t worked. Ash dipping short balls at Connor’s feet to win a Wimby, Fed finally ripping backhands with a new racquet in an Aussie against Nadal.

    I was actually sad for Zverev seeing him play into a foreshadowed doom of slam final failure. But there he was, an amalgam of bad decisions (creating his own bad fortune by dismissing three legendary tennis coaches and former players before they could even help him) superficial conceit and false bravado. “I’m just not good enough.” -was his analysis. Not good enough? You defeated Djokovic to win a gold medal, you have masters 1000s. You only have to be good enough for three or four or five hours to get a slam and be willing to die on the court for it.

  • Scoop Malinowski · January 30, 2025 at 4:30 pm

    It was eye brow raising to see zverev and sinner both rode the same plane together out of Melbourne.

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