Of the city, Ernest Hemingway wrote, "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."
Though Jim Courier never lived there, his time in Paris won't soon be forgotten. That is, after all, where the Dade City native's professional career came alive with French Open championships on the famed red clay at Roland Garros in 1991 and '92. The '91 title, at the expense of childhood pal Andre Agassi, secured his first major.
"There's something about Paris in the spring," Courier, 33, said Monday.
"The French Open is such a classy event and has such a great history."
Each major has its unique qualities. And each typically crowns a certain kind of champion. The French is considered a thinking person's event, and that fact gives Courier another shot of pride in his Paris successes.
"This is one where (Americans) are not expected to win," Courier said. "When an American wins, it always sends shudders through the locker room."
DOUBLE DOWN: For the second time in a week, a Tampa resident has withdrawn from the French, which begins in six days. First it was Mardy Fish. Now it's James Blake, who along with Younes El Aynaoui pulled out of the event Monday because of an injury. Blake, ranked No. 40, hurt his neck and spine after slamming into a net post two weeks ago while practicing in Rome.
Fish withdrew because of tendinitis in his left hip.
El Aynaoui, No. 36, has a right foot injury and probably will have surgery soon, the Associated Press reported. He pulled out of the Australian Open in January and hasn't played in a tournament since.
TV TALK: Former tour standout Pam Shriver will be on maternity leave and will not join her ESPN colleagues at the French Open and Wimbledon. She's married to George Lazenby, who is best known for his brief stint as 007 agent James Bond. ... Dick Enberg, a veteran of 17 French Open and 20 Wimbledon championships, will work for ESPN at both events this year. Enberg, who began with NBC in 1975, joined CBS in 2000 and has won 13 Sports Emmy Awards, will call a match each day and provide commentaries. ... The Tennis Channel, the 24-hour cable television network devoted exclusively to tennis and other racket sports, celebrated its first anniversary Saturday. The network, provided locally by Bright House, expects to reach 10-million households soon. ... ESPN commentator MaliVai Washington, regarding the French, said, "It's the dirtiest Grand Slam there is. You get dirty, and I just love the red clay. I love the grind, love the gruel. It's the most challenging Grand Slam."
ODDS AND ENDS: Be on the watch for Jimmy Connors Saved My Life, a book by tennis journalist Joel Drucker to be published in August. It's being billed as "both a comprehensive biography of Connors and a memoir of the author's life as it intersected and ultimately clashed with the tennis superstar." ... The WTA Tour, headquartered in St. Petersburg, named veteran entertainment communications executive Susan Lomax as vice president of communications. She's the former head of public relations at Universal Orlando. ... The French Open wasn't played during World War II, and for part of the German occupation Roland Garros was used as a temporary prison for Jews before they were transported to concentration camps. ... Reigning French champion Justine Henin-Hardenne won the French juniors title in 1997, and men's titleholder Juan Carlos Ferrero was a juniors finalist in 1998.
LAST WORD: "I'm a bit sad because the final is the only match you're not supposed to lose."
- Guillermo Coria after falling to Roger Federer 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in the championship of the Masters Series Hamburg on Sunday in Germany. It was Coria's first loss on clay since last year's French Open semifinals.
- Information from the Associated Press was used in the report.
