Similarly, Michael Chang is desperately trying to improve his world ranking. He is currently languishing at number 40, having been ranked as highly as number 2 in 1996.
Andre Agassi meanwhile is said to have had problems with the team's management, particularly US Captain Tom Gulikson. Recently he had issued a statement that he would never play Davis Cup again.
It's not only Americans who have snubbed the Davis Cup. Last year the Australian team was clouded by controversy over Mark Philippoussis's refusal to play for his country. *
In holding such attitudes, the players mentioned above are providing poor role models for tennis fans. It also challenges the credibility of the event. The Davis Cup is not as lucrative as many other tennis tournaments, nor does it involve any ranking points for individuals. But it would be good to see more of the top players giving something back to tennis, by playing and representing their country.
Current US team player Jim Courier stated: "This is a team event. Make yourself available at the beginning of the year or you're not available at all." Clearly it's not just the tennis public who are disillutioned with the poor attitudes of Sampras, Agassi and Chang.
The selfish attitudes displayed by Sampras and the like is damaging to the image of tennis professionals today.
*Note: To his credit Mark Philippoussis has since resolved his difference with team management, and is currently back in Australia's Davis Cup team.
News
Jim Courier was the hero of the American Davis Cup team, which eventually defeated Great Britain by 3 rubbers to 2. The former world number 1 shook off his mediocre form of the past few years to defeat consecutive top twenty players in Tim Henman and then Greg Rusedksi. Both matches stretched to 5 sets, and the entire tie was not decided until the 5th set of Courier's match against Rusedksi.
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