TENNIS / PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS : Chang Completes Courier’s Fall

Jim Courier learned the hard way that it can be easier getting to the top than staying there.

Courier’s six-week run as No. 1 player in the world ended Friday when he lost to Michael Chang, 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals of the International Players Championships.

“It’s been a rough ride,” said Courier, who needed a victory over Chang to stay ahead of Stefan Edberg in the computer rankings.

“Hopefully, I’m going to get it back before too long. I think it’s something that in the future I’ll be able to handle.”

Courier, 21, has an 11-5 record since securing the top spot for the first time in his career on Feb. 9.

“I’m not playing that great,” he said. “I think probably the reason is that my mind has been on too many other things besides tennis . . . a lot of business deals, a lot of interviews, a lot of turned-down interviews that created problems. Everybody wants a little piece of you.”

Chang needed only 79 minutes to extend his career-best winning streak to 11 matches and advanced to Sunday’s final against Alberto Mancini of Argentina, a 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 winner over Jakob Hlasek of Switzerland.

In the women’s final today, Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina will play Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain.

Courier appeared tight, confused and frustrated against Chang.

“Don’t beat yourself, you moron!” Courier shouted to himself after one poor shot.

Chang, who knows something about high expectations, could see what Courier was going through.

“Today was a difficult match for Jim,” Chang said. “It’s difficult when you know something is on the line.

“The guy on the loudspeaker before the match announces, ‘In order to retain the No. 1 ranking, he has to win this match!’ That’s a lot of pressure.”

During one three-game stretch in the second set, Courier hit three shots off the frame of his racket.

This was the best player in the world?

“I didn’t ever feel too good out there,” he said. “Michael was playing well, keeping the ball deep and not making many mistakes. I was keeping the ball short and making a lot of mistakes. It’s tough to win like that.”

Courier never had a break point and made 27 errors to 14 for Chang.

Strictly a baseliner when he won the 1989 French Open, Chang came to the net 22 times against Courier.

“I’ve worked on becoming a more aggressive, complete player,” said the 21-year-old American, who is ranked ninth and seeking his third tournament title this year.

Courier, who supplanted Edberg at No. 1, will slip a notch next week because he will lose the computer points earned for winning the Key Biscayne tournament last year.

Edberg was upset this week by qualifier Robbie Weiss, but that result will be discounted by the computer, which tabulates only a player’s 14 best tournaments during a calendar year.

Edberg will assume the No. 1 spot for the fourth time in his career, but reluctantly. After losing to Weiss, ranked No. 289, the Swede said he is in one of the worst slumps of his career and doesn’t deserve to be on top.