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Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Stan Smith was named
coach of the U.S. Olympic men's tennis team Thursday after Davis
Cup captain John McEnroe turned down the job.
McEnroe declined because of conflicts with his personal
schedule, USTA president Judy Levering said. The Sydney Olympics
begin in mid-September, when McEnroe's six children will just be
starting school, and he didn't want to make the long trip so soon
after working as a television commentator at the U.S. Open, which
ends Sept. 10.
The U.S. Davis Cup captain coached at each of the past three
Olympics.
"It's a real honor and a bit of a surprise to be asked to do
this," Smith said. "It's special to be representing the United
States, especially outside the United States."
Smith, 53, played Davis Cup for 11 years and was a member of
seven championship teams. His first task as Olympic coach will be
to persuade Pete Sampras to join the team, which won't be easy.
Sampras didn't play in the 1996 Games at Atlanta and has said he
won't make the trip to Sydney.
"If he were going to decline, I'm going to give him a call and
see whether there's a possibility he might reconsider," Smith
said. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime. Those who have played
and done well, it's the highlight of their lives and their tennis
careers."
Andre Agassi, a second-generation Olympian who won the gold
medal in Atlanta, has agreed to play again. Also expected to accept
invitations to play singles for the U.S. team are Michael Chang,
Todd Martin and -- if Sampras declines -- Jan-Michael Gambill.
Invitations for singles are based on the July 10 tour rankings.
Smith will choose the doubles team, with Alex O'Brien and Jared
Palmer the most likely pairing.
The U.S. men's and women's teams will be announced by Tuesday.
Billie Jean King was earlier chosen to coach the women's team.
Smith, who is from Hilton Head Island, S.C., won 39 singles
titles and 61 doubles titles during his career. He was singles
champion at the U.S. Open in 1971 and at Wimbledon in 1972.
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