Last week I interviewed former tennis greats Jim Courier and Andre Agassi for the HSBC tournament cup for Glittarazzi.com Below are both my interviews.
Jim Courier:
http://www.glittarazzi.com/washington-blog/349-people/111272-qaa-meet-tennis-legend-jim-courier
Q&A: Meet Tennis Legend Jim Courier
- THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2011
MARLENE HALL, WRITER
Meet Jim Courier.
He’s a formerly ranked No. 1 tennis champion (for 58 weeks!) — as well as a businessman, rocker and charity organizer.
He is also the co-founder of the Champions Series, in which he also plays; the captain of the U.S Davis Cup Captain; and founder of his own charity, Courier’s Kids.
This month, he is bringing the Championship Series to Washington, D.C. And, lucky us, he took some time to give us the quick and dirty on the tennis tour:
Glittarazzi: Please tell me about your tennis tournament in D.C.
Jim: “We are coming to Washington, D.C., on Friday, Sept. 23, to play a one-night tournament. It’s called the HSBC Tennis Cup. It’s part of a 12-city tour. The purpose of that is to give tennis fans the chance to see players that are legends of the game, guys like Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and other players playing on our champion series during this five-week stretch: John McEnroe, Bjron Borg, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Michael Chang and myself. So, we have eight players, everyone has won a major; seven players have been No. 1 in the world. It is a one-night tournament that concludes with a champion each night.”
You and Andre Agassi were roommates?
“We were high school roommates at a tennis academy in Florida called Bolliteri’s. We have known each other a long time, since we were about 11 or 12 years old. It’s been a really interesting road for us to experience a lot of life that has intersected in many ways.”
What’s it like being a professional tennis player?
“Being a professional tennis player, it was a dream of all of ours as we were children for the most part, maybe not Andre’s. It was more his father’s dream than his. Tennis is something I’m very passionate about and have been since I started playing the sport. To be able to call tennis a job has been something I don’t take for granted. I love being able to compete, especially against the players like the ones I get to play against on the Champion Series.”
What do you think of D.C.?
“I’ve played in D.C. several times. I have very good friends that live in Washington, D.C., and family. I don’t get there as often as I’d like to. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come spend some time in our Nation’s Capital and get to see some friends and family while I’m there — as well as obviously focus on competing which is the purpose of being there.”
If you hadn’t been a tennis player, what do you think you would have done?
“It’s a question that I never can really answer properly. I’ve always just wanted to be a tennis player. I’m lucky enough to make that happen. I’ve played tennis since I was seven years old. I’m a very competitive person by nature. I certainly enjoy competing in business as well. My hunch is I’d just be somewhere in the business world, but I’m not exactly sure where I would have ended up. I am not one of those people who unequivocally goes I’m gonna be a rock star or an astronaut or a fireman. I just always wanted to play tennis.”
Special nickname while playing tennis?
“My nickname on the tour is Rock. It is because at the tennis academy I was known for having a passion for rock ‘n’ roll and I had a drum set. They started calling me that and it stuck with me.”
What music are you listening to?
“I really like the new Incubus album. REM came out with a great album this year. Dig the Kings of Leon. Gavin de Graw, I like that.”
Come see Courier — a.k.a. “Rock” — play tennis against other tennis greats in the HSBC Champion Series, Sept. 23, at the Verizon Center. More info here.
Andre Aggasi:
http://www.glittarazzi.com/washington-blog/349-people/111381-hsbc-tennis-tournament.html
Q&A: Andre Agassi At HSBC Tennis Cup
- SATURDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2011
MARLENE HALL, WRITER
Friday night was the HSBC Tennis Cup at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
The contenders? Michael Chang, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. Several high-profile people — including former DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, Kastles Owner Mark Ein and the Glittarazzi — spent the evening, watching this tennis drama unfold.
Here’s how it went down.
Chang played Sampras with Chang winning the six-game set. Next, crowd favorite Agassi was defeated by Courier. Chang ultimately defeated Courier for the championship.
And, while the same amount of intensity wasn’t there, like, say watching the US Open, it was still great tennis and a lot of fun.
The crowd got to see the fun side of the players, which is rarely seen. Agassi and Courier even talked a bit of trash, back and forth — when a call went Agassi’s way, much to Courier’s chagrin, Agassi pointed to the line judge, “That’s my mom!”
They even gave a ball girl the chance to play against Agassi when Courier was upset with his play. The ball girl was cheered on as Courier lowered the net so her ball would pass over. She won the point, and an actual point was given to Courier!
Q&A: Andre Agassi
After the Courier/Agassi match, Glittarazzi snagged a brief interview with Agassi, who is warm, endearing, and charming in person.
He told us that Courier’s nickname for him is “The King,” but he gave no explanation as to why. (However, when he entered the arena, the A-V team played Elvis Presley’s song, “A Little Less Conversation.”)
And, the ball girl’s point?
Agassi was not too upset that the ball girl got Courier a point — even though it seemed to be a game changer. He said he was glad she was able to play. When pressed if he was being tactful, he replied, “No, it’s true!”
Now, Agassi and the tennis crew are off to Philly for the next tournament.
While in Philly, Agassi said he will check in on his Kipp school, which he helped to fund with his Children Educational Foundation. He said he hasn’t worked with former chancellor of Washington, D.C., public schools, Michelle Rhee, but he said she is aware of his school program.
Agassi said he enjoys doing these tournaments as it fits his schedule — because it requires only a month to train and doesn’t keep him away from his family too much. (While talking with us, his iPhone accidentally went off and we spied his two cute children on the screen. Aww!)
The HSBC Tennis Tournament was a blast, and we’re not just talking about the freezing temperature in the Verizon Center.
Well played, gentlemen!
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