Jim Courier enjoyed a legendary tennis career, reaching world number one and winning multiple Grand Slam titles.
Competing for 12 years between 1988 and 2000, Courier won four Grand Slam titles and held the number one ranking for 58 weeks.
Courier won the Australian Open and French Open twice, but fell short in his sole final appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Retiring in 2000, Courier began working as a commentator shortly after, sharing his opinions on the sport with fans around the world.
He did just that during Novak Djokovic’s win over Alexander Zverev on Wednesday night, as the American selected the greatest single game of tennis he’d ever seen.
Jim Courier says Novak Djokovic v Alexander Zverev at the 2021 US Open had the ‘greatest game ever’
During his commentary of Djokovic’s quarterfinal win at the 2025 French Open, Courier named the greatest game of tennis he’d seen.
“We shouldn’t really be surprised that we’ve seen some of the most breathtaking single points between these two players,” he said.
“The single greatest game that I’ve ever seen played in tennis was these two guys in the semi-finals of the US Open in 2021.
“[Alexander] Zverev serving to stay in the set at that point, one set apiece.
“There was an 18-shot rally, 32, a 12-shot rally, a 21-shot rally, a 53-shot rally, and finally [Novak] Djokovic broke serve on a 17-shot rally to take the set.
“He would win it in five sets, but I’ve never seen a game that competitive before or since. It was astonishing, the physicality, the emotion, it was a privilege to witness it.
“You think about the greatest round of boxing you’ve ever seen, this was the tennis version.”
On set point at *4-5, 15-40, Zverev and Djokovic battled it out in one of the greatest points of Grand Slam tennis you will ever see.
The pair hit the ball ferociously for over a minute before a thunderous forehand from Zverev won the marathon 53-shot rally.
It was going to be tough to top that, but Zverev and Djokovic certainly came close during their French Open quarterfinal match.
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev’s 41-shot rally at the French Open
Down break point in the fourth set against Zverev, Djokovic proved why many consider him to be the greatest of all time.
After 38 brutal shots, Djokovic hit a beautiful drop shot which his German rival did well to retrieve.
Zverev’s return gave Djokovic a great chance to hit a forehand, an opportunity he grasped as he saved the break point.
Commentator John McEnroe couldn’t quite believe what he’d seen.
“I’ve got goosebumps just watching these two dig deep right there,” he said.
McEnroe wasn’t the only one to be impressed by the point as fans took to X to share their thoughts.
“Wow. Just wow,” said one fan.
“41-shot rally that had pretty much everything, and on break point.”
“Unreal, mind-boggling, jaw-dropping 41-shot rally to save a break point,” added another.
“Novak Djokovic is 38 years old, playing a 28-year-old. Beyond crazy.”
“Djokovic with that 41-shot rally to save a break point. He never gives up,” said another fan.
“That 41-shot rally shows why tennis is pure art. Not just about power, it’s footwork, stamina, and pure grit. Djokovic’s mental toughness in these marathon points is what separates champions from contenders,” said one fan on X.
Djokovic went on to win the match in four sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, booking his place in the semi-finals where he’ll take on Jannik Sinner.
Sinner and Djokovic will face off for a place in the French Open final on Friday, June 6.
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