Jim Courier tips Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic as players to watch
He is excited to watch Jannik Sinner, who has won the Australian Open for the last two years, and his potential rival Carlos Alcaraz in this year’s tournament.
“These guys are separating themselves from the pack and we’ll see if anyone else can catch up with them, including Novak Djokovic, who is a 10-time champion and is still around,” he says.
Jim Courier films an advert for Uber Eats cycling along the Yarra River. Credit: Simon Schluter
Courier is also keen to watch young Brazilian player Joao Fonseca and will also keep an eye on Australia’s great hope Alex de Minaur.
“How can Alex get past the quarter-finals?” he says. “He’s at the point where he’s gotten to the quarter-finals and I’d love for him to get to the semi-finals or the final, otherwise if he could manage to win that would be incredible.”
In the women’s draw, Courier is looking forward to seeing Aryna Sabalenka, who he says deserves to be the favourite, alongside 2025 Australian Open winner Madison Keys.
“How did he come back as a defending champion? Because watching him win last year was an incredible and uplifting story,” he says.
Another player the Courier should watch is Iga Swiatek, who is trying to do the same thing as Carlos Alcaraz: Win the Australian Open to complete a career grand slam and win all the majors at least once.
Courier says the Australian Open has changed a lot since his time as a player, going from a “really great tennis tournament” to a “fantastic event with incredible food and music”.
Much of this evolution has been attributed to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley, who has served as the grand slam’s tournament director since 2006, but reports have emerged this year that Tiley will take over as head of the United States Tennis Association after this year’s Open.
“I don’t know if that’s true,” Courier says. “They’ll be lucky if it stays in Tennis Australia. They’ll be lucky if it comes to the USTA and the USA.”
Jim Courier cruised to victory at the Yarra after winning the Australian Open in 1993. Credit: Stuart Hannagan
“He’s an innovator, a deep thinker, and isn’t afraid to shake up what’s considered the consensus of a sport that’s been around for so long.”
The Courier returned to Melbourne earlier than usual ahead of the Australian Open to shoot a commercial for food delivery company Uber Eats.
In the ad, Courier plays the role of an Uber Eats courier who cycles along the Yarra and waits outside a restaurant for a delivery.
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He’s also excited about Melbourne’s food scene, citing Chin Chin and Movida in the CBD as favourites.
“I still love going to South Yarra, where I stayed as a player for many years, and going to some of my favorite restaurants, like France Soir, which is still there, which is apparently this incredibly wonderful French bistro restaurant where I celebrated one of my Australian Open titles 100 years ago.”
Filming the commercial reunited the Courier with former actors Todd Woodbridge and Pat Rafter, who appeared in the commercial; Rafter was floating on a raft in the Yarra River.
While the Courier remained dry during filming, Rafter unexpectedly tumbled into the river; This was reminiscent of the Courier’s victory celebration more than 30 years ago.
“He fell in,” says the Courier. “I’m pretty sure he fell while shooting, but Pat is a good sport.”
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