Courier Comes Back, Clinches Davis Cup : Tennis: The world’s top-ranked player finishes off Switzerland by beating Hlasek, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It’s old, it’s tarnished, it’s dented and it’s not in Switzerland. That would be the Davis Cup, sort of tennis’ answer to the crown jewels, a 92-year-old trophy made in the USA and now once again owned by it.

For the 30th time in 57 trips to the final, the United States won the Davis Cup title Sunday by subduing a stubborn two-man Swiss team that didn’t have much more going for it than the painted faces of their fans.

The United States, which probably would have been favored against a rockslide, rolled past Switzerland, 3-1, and guaranteed itself the title on Jim Courier’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Jakob Hlasek.

Once he watched Hlasek knock a service return wide on match point, Courier raised his arms and hugged team captain Tom Gorman. John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras ran on the court and lifted Courier.

It was a victory ride at long last for the No. 1 player in the world, whose Davis Cup experience up to that point consisted basically of misery, mishits and defeats.

But there was Courier on the court to claim the point that clinched the title and there he was again carrying the American flag on a victory lap around the Tarrant County Convention Center.

“The reason it’s extra special for me, I feel like I’m as much of a part of the team as anyone,” said Courier, whose opening night loss to Marc Rosset gave the vastly undermanned Swiss their only point in the final.

“It’s really special,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll win this thing for the next eight or nine years.”

At least the Swiss fans seemed to have a good time in their first Davis Cup final, with their bells and flags and funny hats, and the players even managed to cause more than a few anxious moments for the heavily favored four-man U.S. team.

Hlasek, who won eight of 11 games in a span of the second and third sets, faltered in the third set and gave Courier the break he needed. Trailing, 4-3, Hlasek led, 40-0, but wound up losing his serve on a poor overhead that Courier got to and put away, and by missing a backhand wide.

Hlasek, who characterized the final as Davis vs. Goliath, acknowledged that he felt pressure all around him.

“I knew if I lose, the (final) is over,” he said. “For a moment, I was very high. Then . . . you know, that’s tennis.”

Courier closed out the third set by serving a love game, moved ahead in the fourth set with a single service break and wrapped up the title serving at 5-4 on the first match point.

Courier smiled, for one of the few times of the weekend.

“I think Jim has gotten over a big hump,” Agassi said.

So it was on to the victory laps with the flag, which turned out to be a tag-team affair. Sampras went first, waving with gusto. He handed the staff McEnroe, who held it with one hand and raised a fist. Agassi made his trip around the court holding the flag and holding up a finger to indicate No. 1. Courier, hatless, was the most demure of the bunch and completed his trip without incident.

“It was a great experience for us to be part of such a great team,” Agassi said.

But even in victory, more than a few questions were left unanswered.

One question involves the future of Gorman as captain. Gorman is not ensured of retaining his position next year. The selection of the Davis Cup captain lies with incoming United States Tennis Assn. president Howard (Bumpy) Frazer, who has not given Gorman a vote of confidence.

Gorman, whose 17 Davis Cup victories are a U.S. record, has had teams in the finals three consecutive years and won two titles.

Gorman, who wants to return, said he plans to talk with Frazer next week.

“I know he has a lot of plans,” Gorman said. “I am anxious to know what they are.”

Another unanswered question involves McEnroe. Agassi hinted strongly that the U.S. players favor McEnroe to replace Gorman and their participation in further Davis Cup play might hinge on McEnroe’s selection.

Davis Cup Notes

Because the final had been decided, the second singles match Sunday was canceled. . . . Swiss captain Dimitri Sturdza said he was treated cordially by Americans during the week, which he found slightly surprising. “In another country, you know, they would take a hammer and club you on the head,” he said.

Jakob Hlasek said that the U.S. team should always be favored to win the Davis Cup every year. “No matter what, outside, inside, away or at home,” Hlasek said. “They have the No. 1 and No. 3, you have a doubles team like that and you have four guys. I mean, like, what else do you want?” . . . Jim Courier’s Davis Cup record is 3-5. He tried to explain why: “Maybe I was caring too much.”