Jim Courier Quotes

“The airplane has had a big impact on my life.”

— Jim Courier

“I think all of us who kind of live within the sport recognize that Davis Cup certainly could be a little more visible if perhaps there were some adjustments made to it, and it was made a little bit more easy to understand for the fans, if there's a little bit more of a start and finish line.”

— Jim Courier

“It is very dangerous to have your self-worth riding on your results as an athlete.”

— Jim Courier

I knew I was the second-best tennis player in the state of Florida and No. 8 in the United States of America when I was 12 years old and I couldn't tell you what I was in baseball, but I liked my chances in tennis of getting a scholarship to college.

— Jim Courier

“It's hard for anyone in the 24-hour news cycles that we all live in now to follow something that the first round is played in March and the final finishes in December. I understand the challenges there.”

— Jim Courier

“I will do everything in my power to make sure people are aware that our team is out there fighting the good fight for the tennis fans of the United States.”

— Jim Courier

“The dumber you are on court, the better you're going to play.”

— Jim Courier

“Unbelievable, yet, what else could it be?”

— Jim Courier

“If they had rankings in baseball, maybe I would have been able to do the math and figure out my chances of being a professional baseball player versus a tennis player. But that was the decision-maker for me, I just thought I was better in tennis.”

— Jim Courier

“I think all of us are shaped by the choices we make.”

— Jim Courier

“The reason I didn't take the baseball route is because they don't have rankings for baseball players.”

— Jim Courier

“I think there's no reason the Davis Cup couldn't be as powerful and popular and profitable as any of the four majors are today, given some changes.”

— Jim Courier

“Tennis doesn't encourage any kind of intellectual development.”

— Jim Courier

“I've been lucky enough to primarily work for myself over the years.”

— Jim Courier

I really try not to read the tennis articles, because a lot of times they're guessing at how a player is feeling, and I like to keep myself kind of open minded about how I'm feeling, rather than have someone else explain to me what's going on.

— Jim Courier

Sports for me is when a guy walks off the court, and you really can't tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way.

— Jim Courier

“It's a simple question of supply and demand. But all of us are grossly overpaid. I think it's a ridiculous dispute.”

— Jim Courier

One of Nadal's strengths is that he's so humble, that he's surprised at what he has achieved, and that he has never bought into his greatness.

— Jim Courier

If I had to choose one man to play for my life, it would be Nadal.

— Jim Courier

“You have to be extreme to be exceptional. I couldn't revel in being number one. I had to get to zero. When my fitness was at its peak, I was intimidating. I made guys cave in. They'd be dejected in the locker room after matches, and I'd go out for a run, as if it wasn't enough. I'd rub it in their faces. I meant to do that.”

— Jim Courier

“Hell be lucky to last five or six years on those knees. What it might have to come down to is playing less on hard surfaces and playing more on forgiving surfaces.”

— Jim Courier

I'm a big proponent of Hawk-Eye. I think it's a wonderful addition, not only for the players, but more importantly for the fans.

— Jim Courier

“Flying has opened up new horizons for tennis.”

— Jim Courier

“You'd have to think that if he'd been around today, Rod Laver would have been Rod Laver.”

— Jim Courier