Courier Still Has Krajicek Flummoxed

Jim Courier has been called a grinder, which is meant to refer to his insistence on chasing down every ball. He has been called one of the most fit players on the men’s tennis tour, which is to say his work ethic will compensate for lack of natural ability.

In fact, now in his tennis mid-life, the 26-year-old Courier is a cagey opportunist. Play him like a baseliner and he’ll be at the net putting away an unexpected volley. Disregard his serve and he’ll fire an ace. Style be damned; to Courier, it’s about whatever it takes to win.

Richard Krajicek has not figured Courier out. The former Wimbledon winner has beaten Courier once in eight tries. Their meeting in Friday night’s Infiniti Open quarterfinals did nothing to illuminate the fourth-seeded Krajicek. The sixth-seeded Courier won, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

In other quarterfinal matches Friday at the L.A. Tennis Center at UCLA, top-seeded Goran Ivanisevic served 20 aces to defeat Byron Black, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, and second-seeded Thomas Enqvist defeated Kenneth Carlsen, 6-3, 7-5.

The day’s upset came when Guillaume Raoux defeated third-seeded Mark Philippoussis. The feisty Frenchman returned Philippoussis’ massive serves with aplomb, needing 1 hour 36 minutes to win, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

In today’s semifinals, Enqvist will play Raoux and Courier will play Ivanisevic, whom he has beaten six of nine times.

It will be Courier’s fourth semifinal of the year, a good season for the former No. 1 now ranked No. 29.

“It’s been a hot and cold year,” Courier said. “I’ve played well in spurts, I’ve played badly in spurts. I’m happy that I’m competitive. I think if I’m competing well I have a good chance.”

Courier and Krajicek, like most of the players here, are still making the transition to hardcourts as the summer season begins. Courier called the quality of play up and down.

“Early in the match I don’t think I played well,” he said. “It was an early-summer match. I think both of us were trying to find our way.”

Courier found his way by being whatever the situation dictated. He played from the baseline and volleyed with ease.

A sizzling forehand cross-court winner gave Courier a break in the fourth game of the first set. He consolidated the break in the next game, barely. Krajicek came up with four break points before Courier prevailed.

Courier’s 4-1 lead evaporated when Krajicek broke back in the seventh game and held for 4-4.

Each player served well in the tiebreaker but a Krajicek double fault was a costly mistake from which he never recovered.

Krajicek was jumping on Courier’s second serve in the first set, rushing the net and controlling the points. Only when Courier corrected his first serve in the second set did he remove that weapon from Krajicek. Courier served well, getting in 71% of his first serves compared to 46% by the streaky Krajicek.

Courier broke to go up 6-5 in the second set and held to win the match.

Friday night’s match was a reprieve for Krajicek, who very nearly lost to a qualifier, Glenn Weiner of Long Beach, Thursday night, perhaps the most exciting match of the tournament.

For Weiner--who had to win three matches in qualifying just to get into the main draw--just to be on court with a player of Krajicek’s stature was exciting.

“It was the best match of my life,” Weiner said. “It’s a thrill to play a top player. It’s a dream to play here in front of my home crowd, in front of my mom. Wow! Wow! It was a great experience.”

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Infiniti Open

Semifinal Matches

Today at Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA

* 1 p.m.--Guillaume Raoux vs. Thomas Enqvist (2)

* 7:30--Goran Ivanisevic (1) vs. Jim Courier (6)