TennisGrandStand

GRAND CAYMAN, April 19 - Jim Courier defeated John McEnroe 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 (Champions Tie-Break) Saturday to advance into the final of $150,000 The Residences at The Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships, the second event on the 2008 Outback Champions Series tennis circuit. Courier will face South Africa’s Wayne Ferreira in the final with the winner earning $54,000 and 800 Stanford Champions Rankings points that determine the year-end No. 1 player - and the winner of a $100,000 year-end bonus - on the Outback Champions Series.

Courier and Ferreira advanced to the final by virtue of undefeated 3-0 records in their respective round-robin groups. Ferreira clinched his berth in the final Friday, finishing his round-robin play with a win over Mikael Pernfors - after beating Paul Haarhuis and Todd Martin in his first two matches. In addition to his win over McEnroe, Courier defeated Mats Wilander on Wednesday and Jimmy Arias on Friday to win his round-robin grouping.

Ferreira will be seeking his fourth Outback Champions Series title of his career Sunday in his fifth career Outback final. He previously won titles in Houston in 2006, and Naples and Dallas in 2007 - his win in Dallas coming at the expense of Courier, who he beat in the final. Courier’s win over McEnroe advanced him into his sixth career Outback Champions Series final. He will be seeking his fourth title to go with wins in Houston in 2005, and Naples and Charlotte in 2006.

“I’m going to need to play well tomorrow,” said Courier. “I’m playing against one of our tour’s best players.I expect the match to be very difficult but hopefully I’ll come out on top because I really don’t get tired of winning.”

Against the 49-year-old McEnroe, Courier encountered his most difficult match of the tournament as McEnroe’s deft touch and volleying prowess enabled him to force Courier into a Champions Tie-break (played in lieu of a third set) on a surface where Courier won two French Open titles in 1991 and 1992.

“John really pushed me out there,” said Courier. “It was a lot of fun. I like being tested. I like being pushed.I feel like I raised my game at the end when I needed it most. I played a really good Champions tie-break to get in there.”

Said McEnroe, “It would have been better if I’d won, but I think I played well. That’s half the battle.If I play well and a guy outplays me, I can live with that a lot easier than if I beat myself. So I felt like he beat me. And I picked up my game in the second. It comes down to a bit of a roll of the dice, but out of those 10 points, he must have hit eight or nine winners so, I mean, it’s not like I gave it to him, but he’s too good.”

Arias and Haarhuis advanced into the third place match without breaking much of a sweat on Saturday. Arias benefited from Wilander’s bad back not allowing him to continue playing after Arias won the first set 6-1.Martin’s ailing back prevented him from even taking the court Saturday against Haarhuis, with the Dutchman being awarded a walk-over victory.

The Residences at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships, features an eight-man round-robin match format with the winner of each four-player division meeting in the title match while second place finishers in each division meet in the third-place match. The event features $150,000 in prize money with an undefeated winner taking home $54,000 as well as Stanford Champions ranking points that will determine the year-end champion and the winner of a $100,000 bonus. More information - including ticket information - is available by visiting http://www.championsseriestennis.com

About The Outback Champions Series

Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features eight events where champion tennis players continue to exercise their competitive instincts in tournament formats that feature prize money and Champions Series ranking points that determine a year-end No. 1 player on the Stanford Champions Rankings. To be eligible to compete on the Outback Champions Series, players must have either; reached a Grand Slam singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event also has the right to choose a “wild card” entrant.

About InsideOut Sports & Entertainment

InsideOut Sports & Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including one-night “Legendary Night” exhibitions as well as corporate outings, charity events and tennis fantasy camps, including the annual Ultimate Fantasy Camp.For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com

ROUND ROBIN GROUP A

Jim Courier 3-0

Jimmy Arias 2-1

John McEnroe 1-2

Mats Wilander 0-3

ROUND ROBIN GROUP B

Wayne Ferreira 3-0

Paul Haarhuis 2-1

Todd Martin 1-2

Mikael Pernfors 0-3

WEDNESDAY RESULTS

Todd Martin, United States, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 7-6, (5), 6-7 (1), 10-7 (Champions Tie Break)

Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, 6-7 (3), 7-5, 10-3 (Champions Tie Break)

Jim Courier, United States, def. Mats Wilander, Sweden, 6-2, 6-0

THURSDAY RESULTS

Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 6-3, 6-2

Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Todd Martin, United States, 6-4, 7-6 (2)

Jimmy Arias, United States, def. John McEnroe, United States, 7-5, 6-2

FRIDAY RESULTS

Wayne Ferreira, South Africa, def. Mikael Pernfors, Sweden, 6-4, 6-3
Jim Courier, United States, def. Jimmy Arias, United States, 7-6 (5), 6-4
John McEnroe, United States, def. Mats Wilander, Sweden, 6-4, 6-2

SATURDAY RESULTS

Jimmy Arias, United States, def. Mats Wilander, Sweden, 6-1, ret.

Jim Courier, United States, def. John McEnroe, United States, 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 (Champions Tie-Break)

Paul Haarhuis, Netherlands, def. Todd Martin, United States (walk-over, Martin back injury)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Jimmy Arias vs. Paul Haarhuis (Third-Place)

Jim Courier vs. Wayne Ferreira (Championship Match)

Related posts:

1. Courier Beats Ferreira For Grand Cayman Title
2. Ferreira Clinches Final Round Berth In Grand Cayman
3. John McEnroe To Begin 2008 Outback Champions Series In Naples, Fla., And The Cayman Islands
4. Wilander, Pernfors and Haarhuis Complete Field for the Residence at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Legends Championships
5. New Events in Arizona and Cayman Islands Highlight 2008 Outback Champions Series Schedule