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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 31, 1993                   TAG: 9301310213
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: D11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA                                LENGTH: Short

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COURIER TAKES MEN'S CROWN

In steamy 150-degree courtside heat that made Jim Courier feel right at home, he bullied Stefan Edberg for two sets and survived a stirring comeback today to capture a second straight Australian Open championship.

Courier, as fierce as he was in his four-set victory over Edberg in the final a year ago, won his fourth Grand Slam title 6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 7-5 and further entrenched himself as No. 1 in the world.

Courier, who won nearly $280,000 to give him $5.2 million in career prize money at age 22, dug the Swede a big hole with serves he barely could touch in the first two sets and almost buried him with sizzling returns and groundstrokes.

Surface temperatures on the rubberized hard courts rose to a blistering 153 degrees during the match, while air temperatures outside the stadium were a stifling 104 degrees - harsh conditions for Edberg but perfect for Courier, a Florida native.

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