Disgusted McEnroe wants to quit as US Davis Cup captain

The fact that US super stars Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi did not make themselves available for the team could have been one reason for the exit of the three-time Wimbledon champion.

McEnroe is expected to take over other responsibilities within the US Tennis federation. His younger brother Patrick as well as former tennis professionals jim Courier and Paul Annacone are possible candidates as new coach.

It’s Hingis vs Seles
NEW YORK: Martina Hingis and Monica Seles turned back the double Russian threat of Anna Kournikova and Elena Dementieva to set a final showdown at the elite WTA Championships.

Hingis continued her domination of her friend and doubles partner Kournikova on Saturday, advancing to her third straight final in this event. The top-seed and World No 1 posted her 11th victory in 12 meetings with Kournikova 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 in the semis.

Next up for Hingis is another favourable matchup in third seed and former champion Seles of the United States, who beat unseeded Russian Elena Dementieva, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) in the second semi-final.

Safin in command
PARIS: The new generation are on the march in men’s tennis and Russian 20-year-old Marat Safin is poised to become the youngest No 1 ever when the new rankings are published on Monday.

Safin reached the final of the $ 2.95 million Paris Masters Series on Saturday, thrashing Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes to increase his grip not only on the new-fangled ATP Champions Race but is set to move clear in the ATP entry system, created in 1973, which determines the `true’ No 1 in the World.

The Russian, beaten finalist last year against Andre Agassi on his Paris indoor debut, now plays Aussie 13th-seed `Scud’ Mark Philippoussis, who dumped out Brazilian top seed Gustavo Kuerten 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (13-11).

Should Safin be confirmed as top of the ranking system on Monday, Safin would be the youngest of 18 players to hold the No 1 spot at 20 years and nine days shy of 10 months, John McEnroe having claimed the previous record of 21 years and 15 days.

Dokic changes track
SYDNEY: Jelena Dokic said she would continue playing for Australia, but her father Damir has warned his daughter will jump ship to Yugoslavia if media attacks on him persist.

The 17-year-old received a Yugoslav passport on Friday and was quoted as saying in Belgrade that she now wanted to represent Yugoslavia rather than Australia her adopted homeland. But she appears to have changed track.

“I did not say that,” Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph quoted her as saying. “I am playing for Australia. I am Serbian, I was born here (Yugoslavia) and I came here for one reason only and that is to get this passport.”