Roddick and Blake not chokers, says Courier

Dubai: American tennis legend Jim Courier has dismissed suggestions that his compatriots Andy Roddick and James Blake are underachieving 'chokers'.

The former world No 1, who is in Dubai for this week's Legends Rock Dubai event, said the pair had come up against the great player he had ever seen - Roger Federer.

Courier said: "With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal around life has definitely become difficult, but I think it's a dangerous assertion to say that those guys [Roddick and Blake] are choking."

He said Roddick would have won more than his 26 career titles to date, including one Grand Slam, had he not been part of the era in which tennis was dominated by Federer and Nadal.

"I think Roddick has had an incredible career so far," said the 38-year-old Courier, who won 23 career titles, including four Grand Slams, during his 12-year career.

"I think he's an over-achiever. He won the US Open in 2003, reached No 1 in the world and has also won the Davis Cup.

"These are things some players only dream of, so I get a little disturbed whenever it is suggested that he's under-achieving and choking.

"People need to look at the guys he's faced throughout his career.

"He's been up against Roger Federer, who is simply the best player I've ever seen; the most complete player ever.

"I feel Roddick would have won at least two Wimbledon titles by now if Federer wasn't in the game, then maybe he'd be sitting atop three Grand Slams in all so far.

"We have to be aware of the circumstances in which he's been playing.

"I think Roddick is a true professional and so is Blake. They're working hard and getting a lot of mileage out of their games.

"Timing is everything in life and unfortunately for them their peak coincided with the peak of Federer and Nadal, so it's very, very challenging for them.

Tough era

"They're playing in a particularly tough era at the top with none other than Federer or Nadal winning Majors for the most part."

Courier, an International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, said there had been a power shift towards Europe.

"I think if we're talking America versus Europe right now we have two players in the top 10 - Roddick and Blake - when we used to have three or four there, with one or two winning Majors all the time, so that's a bit of a shift for the American tennis fan."

Factfile

Name: Jim Courier
Date of birth: August 17, 1970
Place of birth: Sanford, Florida
Residence: Orlando, Florida
Height: 6ft 1in
Played: Right-handed, double-handed backhand
Turned pro: 1988
Highest ranking: No 1
Singles titles: 23
Grand Slam results: Won Australian Open (1992/93); Won French Open (1991/92): Wimbledon finalist in 1993; US Open finalist in 1991
Career prize money: $14.03 million