Tarango’s Troubles Begin With His Draw

So, Jeff Tarango, how do you have to play to beat Jim Courier?

“Great,” he said.

Or maybe even better than that. It won’t be easy for Tarango, a 24-year-old from Manhattan Beach, who will make his Center Court debut Friday against a guy who has already been on enough of them to win four Grand Slam events, including two French Opens.

Tarango, ranked No. 75, has known Courier since they played in juniors and even learned from him how to slide on clay.

“Hopefully, I’ll have a lot of fun,” Tarango said. “I’m sure everybody will hear about it if I win.”

Courier scored his second consecutive straight-set victory Wednesday, a 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 wipeout of Tomas Carbonell.

Since turning pro after his junior year at Stanford, where he was a three-time All-American and doubles partner of David Wheaton, Tarango has traveled somewhat of a bumpy road. He won two smaller tournaments last year, at Wellington, New Zealand, and in Tel Aviv, but finished the year ranked only No. 42.

Drawing No. 2-ranked Courier in the third round is not the best situation, Tarango acknowledged.

“It’s a longshot,” he said.

On the bright side, Tarango nearly didn’t make it this far anyway. He trailed Markus Naewie, 0-6, 2-6, in the first round on Monday, then won the next three sets.

“I was out there on Court 5, and I could see Court 1 way up at the top where they have the names of the former champions,” Tarango said. “I looked up and wondered how many times those guys had to come back from two sets down.”

Tarango needed only three sets Wednesday to dispatch Olivier Delaitre, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, thus setting up his confrontation with Courier.

“This is a once-in-a-few-years opportunity,” Tarango said. “I’ll just be trying to absorb the whole experience. I’ve been here waiting for a break for a couple of years.

“How great is he? That’s what I’m going to see for myself.”