Courier Takes Edberg Out of the Picture

If this thing goes any further, it could very well be that Jim Courier’s white baseball cap will replace the beret as France’s chapeau of choice.

Courier, a 20-year-old former Little League pitcher turned clay-court power pitcher, struck out top-seeded Stefan Edberg in the French Open by hurling a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 complete game.

Courier now runs straight into Michael Stich, the second-most famous male player in Germany, who joined countryman Boris Becker in the semifinals. Becker needs only to defeat Andre Agassi in the semifinals to unseat Edberg and be ranked No. 1, regardless of how he might fare in the final.

A onetime hothead, Stich has learned to control himself on the court, which has been sort of a tranquil place for the 22-year-old.

Stich was absolutely serene in his 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 quarterfinal demolition of Franco Davin.

As for following up Becker, Stich said there is nothing like being compared to the original.

“I am always in his shadow,” Stich said. “People are always compared to Boris. He is the best in Germany, so that is only normal. Other players . . . are just not as good as Boris. I am pleased to have got this far.”

Edberg did not play his best, but he was at least partially hit by a case of bad luck.

Already ahead by a set, Courier held a break point on Edberg at 3-3 in the fourth set and conked a backhand return of a first serve off the frame of his racket. Edberg turned and watched helplessly as the ball landed inside the baseline.

Courier blew a kiss to the sky to celebrate his good luck. Afterward, he filed the shot under its appropriate heading.

“I hit it with the expensive part of the racket, which is not the strings,” Courier said. “You need a little luck every once in a while, and mine came at a very big moment.”

He had more good luck soon. Serving for the match, the ninth-seeded Courier missed one match-point opportunity when his backhand passing shot hit halfway down the net for deuce.

On the next point, Edberg hit a lob that landed at the baseline. The linesman called the ball in, Courier gestured that it was out and the chair umpire eventually agreed with Courier.

The overrule gave Courier a second match-point opportunity, and this time he cashed it in. Courier sent a forehand screeching cross court, the ball landed on the line and bounced away.

After 2 hours 54 minutes, the match was over, even though it seemed to come to an abrupt halt.

Courier said there was no question that the telltale lob was indeed out. “I knew it was out,” he said. “I had no doubt. There was no chance the umpire would call it good.”

Edberg could only wonder about the margin between good luck and bad, and on which side of them the ball comes down.

“I hit a good lob and I thought it was good,” he said. “I couldn’t see the ball mark from where I was. But that was typical for the match. I miss my lob, and he hits the line on the next shot.”

Courier followed his game plan, inspired by Jose Higueras, his clay-court tutor, and prevented Edberg from dictating play. Courier’s returns kept Edberg from making his approach shots as good as he would have wanted.

When Edberg’s service troubles are added--56% on first serves, six aces, seven double faults--it was enough to tilt the match in Courier’s favor. “It wasn’t like I blew him away,” Courier said. “It’s obvious he didn’t play his best tennis.”

It’s just as obvious that Courier is playing his best tennis. Whether the hat he wears is responsible for this, it’s still too early to tell. But if Courier wins two more matches, that’s a real hat trick.