Davis Cup: U.S. Captain wanted
U.S. will play at Chile in the first round of Davis Cup next March. As the former Australian Open runner-up and the Chilean star, Fernando Gonzalez, is facing hip surgery which will keep him away from captaincy for almost a year. Therefore U.S. needs a captain
for the upcoming Davis Cup, the job that isn’t as disappointing as it may appear.
But the question is who will be sitting in the captain’s chair when the U.S. travels to South America? Here’s a list of main contenders, with their Davis Cup statistics and pluses and minuses.
Jim Courier:
Jim has played in two Cup-winning squads, in 1992 and 1995. He has a record of 16-10 in singles, 1-10 in doubles and has played in 14 ties. He is the top contender right now and no doubt he is noted by the USTA for an excellent record in the Davis Cup play
and above all he wants the job.
Courier is a big role model for all celebrity captains, although, his brief career was not very successful. Therefore, the question remains that is Jim’s personality independent-minded and does he have the ideal combination of leadership and self-submerging
mentor?
The job requires a captain with an eye for detailed work and noted interpersonal skills. It goes in Jim’s favour, that except for Andy Roddick, none of the American singles candidate is a Grand Slam winner or international star. That gives Jim, who is the
four times Grand Slam champ plenty of chances to grab the U.S. captain’s seat.
Todd Martin:
Todd, who is a well known model team player, has played 11-8, 5-6, 18 ties and played an exciting doubles match in 1995, the victory gave him a lot of fame and popularity. Above all this former tennis player is a very good scout as well. Therefore, he could
be more patient while tackling irritating official duties of the captain. The U.S. could not get a better ambassador-c*m-captain other than Todd.
Although Todd has some qualities, which doesn’t suit a U.S. captain as he is quiet, understated and his understanding attitude is not appreciated. The quality of an ideal captain is that, he should be a combination of both fire and ice. Ice is there but
the fire is missing, which is required to boost up the team.
Brad Gilbert:
Brad is the third competitor for this job. He wants the job and wants it in typical Brad fashion. If a candidate gets points for voluble enthusiasm, he’d be the one to choose.
Brad has won 10-5 in singles, with eight ties but unfortunately never played on a team that won the singles championship.
He is great on X’s and O’s, and could easily face the difficult situations as jumping on a chair in a locker room and calling for the heads of his opponents.
The ESPN broadcaster could also help publicise the Davis Cup. But some people don’t like his brash manner and hyperactive personality.
MaliVai Washington:
MaliVai has also taken part in this competition by throwing his hat in the ring, and it’s hard to imagine USTA picking it up and putting it on. He is a person, who has not been involved with sports for a decade, despite some minor broadcasting assignments.
It won’t be wrong to say that he has no shot.
Jay Berger:
Jay could be best contenders if his record includes a critical singles win over Jaime Yzaga in Peru, he has a record of 2-0 in singles in two singles and unfortunately as stated he hasn’t won any match yet. This tells us a lot about Berger, who was known
as an outstanding and often outgunned competitor.
He has been the official Davis Cup coach under the leadership of Pat McEnroe, and he is Pat McEnroe’s right hand as well. The players love Jay, “Jay has been invaluable, our Davis Cup effort and player development work hand in hand, and Jay has to get tremendous
credit for how well it’s worked out”, McEnroe said.
Moreover, no field of contenders is complete without an outstanding long shot and Berger is that long shot.
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