Tennis: Courier loves `big show'

JIM COURIER, the American who almost single-handedly beat Britain in the Davis Cup at the NEC earlier this year, made headway here yesterday by beating Carlos Moya in five sets, thereby making the Spaniard the first seed to be eliminated from the men's singles this year. Courier defied his world ranking of No 62 to overcome Moya, ranked No 10 and seeded No 12 at the Championships, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.

Courier got as far as the Wimbledon final in 1993 before losing out to Pete Sampras, who himself progressed into the third round yesterday with an easy win over Sebastien Lareau, of Canada, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. However, it was Courier who was happiest yesterday.

"I wish I could play every match out there. I like the big show. I'm happy to win, fortunate to win," he said. "Obviously it was one of those matches where if it went the other way I'd still have a good feeling about it because I like the way I played out there."

He added that the Davis Cup win over Britain had breathed new live into American tennis players, and not only those who were involved.

"I think that was an inspirational moment for all of us, but I also think that it is coming at a time in out lives when people like Andre [Agassi] and Pete [Sampras] and Todd Martin and myself and the other guys involved with the Davis Cup in recent years are very comfortable with who they are and there's not a lot of jealousy or envy any more.

"I think we've got past that and can now honestly root for each other and hope for the best for each other. It is the best thing that could happen to us." he said.

On Agassi, he said: "If Andre wants to come back, the door is open for him. He is fed up with the US Federation, he has burned a few bridges there. But as far as the players are concerned, we would welcome him back with open arms."

One man who was not rooting for a compatriot was the No 7 seed, Mark Philippoussis, who was playing against his Australian Davis Cup team-mate Mark Woodforde. "This is Wimbledon and he is the bloke on the court. I was looking at it one point at a time," Philippoussis said after winning in four sets, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. "I was extremely pleased with the way I played today," he added. "Some of the volleys he picked up were unbelievable. I hung in there and got the serve game at the start of the fourth and held onto my serve."