For the first time in many years Nadal will not be the favorite going into Roland Garros, that role is now firmly occupied by Novak Djokovic. Nadal is less vulnerable in Paris, given the best of five-set format which allows him more time to problem solve but there are now guys in the locker room who see him as an opportunity rather than an immovable obstacle.

Jim Courier

Categorized in : Sports

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

success inspirational sports

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

team fighting people

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

Jim Courier

court tennis play

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

softball running sports

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

tennis player feelings

It does take a great hunger to be successful at anything.

Jim Courier

hunger successful doe

Even the poor can be fat in the U.S.

Jim Courier

fats poor

Us going out there and performing our best. That's how I define success. I'm not going to define it for us by the wins and the losses as much as by the effort and how we handle ourselves.

Jim Courier

effort winning loss

People handle stress in different ways.

Jim Courier

stress different people

Tennis is more than just shots. It's about being clutch and beating the people on the other side of the net.

Jim Courier

tennis sides people

Fear is an interesting energy that we all have to face. Some people step up and aren't afraid but still come up short. And some would rather cop out: "My shoulder hurts" or "I didn't give it my all." They can sleep at night.

Jim Courier

hurt sleep night

The good news is I have time.

Jim Courier

good-news news

Focusing on one thing can be tough, and people with fewer options are more apt to concentrate on what they're doing. There's probably something to hunger.

Jim Courier

hunger tough people

Many books have been written about what the X-factor is, what separates people who win big matches versus those who struggle. Some of it's innate, but there's a piece of it that's learned, embracing those moments.

Jim Courier

struggle winning book

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

Jim Courier

self-respect self-worth athlete

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

Jim Courier

nadal play men

The airplane has had a big impact on my life.

Jim Courier

impact airplane bigs

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

forgiving lucky years

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

Jim Courier

tennis today thinking

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

Jim Courier

lucky enough years