CHICAGO (AP)—Jim Courier outlasted Andre Agassi 8-7 (3) on Thursday night in the PowerShares QQQ Challenge at the United Center for this first Champions Series title of the year.
“I really had to do something special tonight to beat Andre,” Courier said. “It feels awfully good to get a title.”
Trailing 7-6, Agassi staved off four match points and was able to hold his serve to force Courier into the tiebreaker. But then trailing 3-2 in the breaker, Agassi conceded the mini-break to Courier, who was able to close out the match 7-3 with some big serves and forehands.
“I had a bad feeling that it wasn’t going to go my way, after missing out on the four match points I blew when Andre was serving at 7-6 in the set,” Courier said. “I was really surprised that I was able to turn it around.”
In the semifinals, Agassi beat John McEnroe 6-4, and Courier topped Todd Martin 6-3.
The series will be in St. Louis on Friday night and the season finale is Saturday night in Buffalo, N.Y.