Real reason Jim Courier is missing from the Australian Open

Jim Courier has been a noticeable absentee from Melbourne Park as the Australian Open got underway with the reason why now made public.

The smooth tones of Jim Courier are as much of a staple of the Australian Open as the iconic blue courts the players take to.

Since first gracing the airwaves in Australia back in 2005, the popular broadcaster’s love of tennis has been seen and heard by hundreds of thousands of households around the country each year as the first grand slam of the season captivates the attention of Aussies.

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So the beloved American’s absence at Melbourne Park this year was noticed almost immediately, as many took to social media to ask where is Jim and why is he no longer part of Channel 9’s broadcast team?

Jim Courier and Ana de Armas at last year’s men’s Australian Open final. Picture: Mark Stewart

The former World No. 1 was last seen in Australia just weeks ago when he anchored the station’s coverage of the United Cup.

However, the disastrous fires that have unfolded in Los Angeles have resulted in Courier remaining in the US, for now.

The Age reported on Monday that Courier is still in America where the fires rage on.

And while the report alleges Courier’s home was not impacted, the broadcaster has reportedly stayed in the area to support family and friends impacted by the disaster.

Courier, who claimed two Aus Open titles during his playing days, is, however, expected to pick up his duties later in the tournament.

Jim Courier has been a staple of the Australian Open broadcast for two decades. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

The 54-year-old has so far missed the opening two days, but is expected to arrive in Melbourne in the coming days.

Fellow former players Jelena Dokic, Lleyton Hewitt, John McEnroe, Sam Stosur and Todd Woodbridge have led Channel 9’s coverage of the Australian Open in his absence.

While Casey Dellacqua and John Millman have also helped pick up the extra workload while the tennis icon remains overseas.

Six simultaneous blazes have torn through LA since last Tuesday- pictured the Palisades fire near the Mandeville Canyon (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)

Six simultaneous blazes have torn through LA since last Tuesday, causing at least 24 deaths and resulting in more than 10,000 structures being totally destroyed and 200,000 people displaced.

The catastrophic blazes have already claimed the homes of a number of high-profile celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Jon Goodman, Anthony Hopkins, and Billy Crystal.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has labelled the fires as the worst natural disaster in American history “in terms of the costs associated with it”.

According to a preliminary estimate by private forecaster Accuweather, insured losses from the fires are expected to exceed $US135bn ($219.7bn).

Originally published as Real reason Jim Courier is missing from the Australian Open