Courier Defeats McEnroe as Expanded Tennis Garden Opens

Jim Courier defeated fellow International Tennis Hall of Fame member John McEnroe, then teamed with Rick Leach for a doubles victory over McEnroe and Peter Fleming this weekend in the first matches played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden's Stadium 2.

The 43-year-old Courier defeated the 55-year-old McEnroe, 10-5, in a super tiebreaker, after splitting the first two sets in what was dubbed the McEnroe Challenge for Charity. Courier won the first, 6-4, and lost the second, 7-5.

The Courier-Leach team defeated McEnroe and Fleming, 8-5, in a nine-game pro set.

Courier's singles victory was worth $25,000 to Family YMCA of the Desert and his doubles team's win brought $25,000 to Childhelp USA. The War Casualty Fund and Eisenhower Medical Center will each receive $15,000.

A representative of each charity selected an envelope at a reception Friday night containing the name of a player or doubles team that would be playing for it.

The War Casualty Fund selected the envelope with McEnroe's name and Eisenhower Medical Center chose the envelope with the name of the McEnroe- Fleming doubles team.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the court of the 8,000-seat stadium before play began.

In addition to the stadium, the expansion to the facility includes new restaurants, a new East entrance and Walk of Palms, an additional shade structure with video walls, four more practice courts and additional concessions.

—City News Service.