Jim Courier

Pete Sampras, home in Tampa preparing for the clay-court season after earning more than $1 million already this year, has made the most of his time at the top of the ATP Tour rankings. He has maintained his No. 1 ranking for all but three weeks since April 12, 1993. He has won the last three Grand Slam events--Wimbledon, the U.S.

There are signs that young Patrick Rafter, only 21 and already ranked 49th in the world, is quickly catching on to the formula for being a truly great Australian tennis player. First, he served and volleyed and beat one of the top players in the game in the Newsweek Champions Cup, ousting defending champion Jim Courier Tuesday in a 1 1/2-hour first-rounder, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. Then, afterward, he described his prematch preparation as follows: "I came in here pretty low.

Jimmy Connors put the golf vs. tennis controversy into perspective--his--when he demanded, "How can you call a thing a sport when you don't even have to run?" Golf, of course, countered, "How can you call a game a sport where a shutout is called 'love?' " Tennis' last hurrah was, "Ever see a fat tennis player?" By any yardstick, though, tennis' Jim Courier is an athlete. Growing up, he couldn't even decide whether to be a tennis or baseball star. He could play them equally well.

Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden upset second-seeded Jim Courier, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round of the Paris Open on Tuesday. For Courier, who had a bye in the first round, it was only the third time in 22 tournaments that he lost in his opening match. "The first matches are always the most dangerous," he said. "You are still getting used to the new balls, new courts and new atmosphere."

As dark clouds spread over the U.S. Open once again Tuesday, it was time for another fond farewell. This is a tournament in danger of being known more for who is gone than who is left. So far, goodbys have been said to Andre, Stefan, Martina, Sergi, and Ivan. Just before the rain hit, it was time for someone else to go. Au revoir , Jim. Cedric Pioline, the 24-year-old son of volleyball-playing parents from Neuilly Sur Seine, France, spiked Jim Courier, the No.

Jim Courier, making the most of a powerful forehand and an outdoor court, won the U.S. Hardcourts title at Indianapolis on Sunday, beating Boris Becker, 7-5, 6-3, for his first victory over the German player. Courier, who officially reclaims the No. 1 ranking in the world today, had lost six matches to Becker, the last five indoors. "I think I have good chances against him on any surface and outdoors particularly, a better chance," Courier said. "So I went in feeling pretty positive."

Australian Jason Stoltenberg scored his biggest victory Wednesday, defeating second-seeded Jim Courier, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the second round of the $1.65 million Assn. of Tennis Professionals Championship. Stoltenberg capped the victory with an ace to Courier's backhand. "That was the serve I felt most confident hitting at the time," said Stoltenberg, who had trouble with his first serve all match. "I went for all my serves. I wasn't going to back off it. But that last one, I was just praying."

Pete Sampras, the No. 1 player in the world, defeated Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark, 6-1, 6-4, Wednesday in his first match since Wimbledon at the $1.65-million Canadian Open in Montreal. Jim Courier, No. 2 in the world, defeated fellow American Jeff Tarango, 6-4, 6-4, in a second-round match. Courier also was playing his first match since losing to Sampras in the Wimbledon final.

In the two biggest upsets at Wimbledon, it hasn't rained a drop and Jim Courier is in today's men's singles final. Actually, the weather is part of the reason why Courier is going after Pete Sampras and still in the hunt for the biggest prize in tennis, which is usually decided on grass made slippery soft by the occasional rain that is both famous and expected at Wimbledon. This is where they sell umbrellas at the concession stands.

Fire up the barbecue (can you grill a steak-and-kidney pie?), salute the flag (not the Union Jack) and have a picnic (forget that tea party), the Yanks aren't merely coming, they're here, all over the place. The Wimbledon men's singles final for the tennis championship of England is going to be an all-American affair between Pete Sampras and Jim Courier, scheduled, appropriately enough, for the Fourth of July. But the fireworks have already started.