COURIER GETS BAD NEWS ELEVENTH SEED IS AMONG FOUR MAJOR UPSET VICTIMS.(SPORTS)

Byline: STEVE WILSTEIN Associated Press

NEW YORK Cruising for bruisings in the U.S. Open: There was Jim Courier getting clobbered in the stadium, Andrei Medvedev crumbling in the grandstand, Wimbledon champ Conchita Martinez and Mary Joe Fernandez reeling on Court 16.

It was a Friday afternoon of sunshine and sucker punches, players hardly anyone ever heard of sneaking up and knocking out four big names.

Courier's lassitude caught up to him against a fiery, fist-pumping young Italian, 21-year-old Andrea Gaudenzi, who took out the No. 11 seed 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round the same round Courier lost in at Wimbledon.

A couple of weeks ago, Courier spoke of bagging his rackets, maybe the sport, if he couldn't recover his desire. He almost stayed away from the Open and perhaps now wishes he did.

His performance, while not …