TENNIS ROUNDUP : Courier Is on Threshold of Being No.1

Jim Courier needs one victory to become the world’s No. 1 tennis player after beating Wally Masur of Australia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Volvo San Francisco tournament.

Down a set and a break in the second set, Courier regrouped and won nine of the next 10 games, dropping only 16 points along the way, to take control of the match.

“I just tried to be a little more aggressive (after Masur’s second-set break) and force the issue a little more,” Courier said.

If Courier, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Stefan Edberg of Sweden, defeats Derrick Rostagno in a semifinal match tonight he will become the first American in 6 1/2 years to reach No. 1.

In other matches, Michael Chang beat Thierry Champion of France, 6-3, 6-3; Rostagno defeated qualifier Jeff Tarango, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1; and Brad Gilbert beat Karsten Braasch of Germany, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Mary Pierce, a 17-year-old American playing out of France, upset Katarina Maleeva of Bulgaria, 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals of the Nokia tournament in Essen, Germany.

In other matches, top-ranked Monica Seles defeated Catarina Lindqvist of Sweden, 6-3, 6-2; Mary Joe Fernandez scored a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sabine Appelmans of Belgium and Barbara Rittner of Germany advanced when countrywoman Anke Huber withdrew because of an ankle injury.

Doctors said Huber, who had strained ligaments, will be a cast for several weeks.

Goran Ivanisevic served 17 aces in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Patrick McEnroe in the quarterfinals of an indoor tournament in Milan, Italy.

Ivanisevic, at No. 8, is the only seeded player left in the event.