TENNIS / THOMAS BONK : U.S. Davis Cup Team in Deep Down Under

So what’s waiting for the U.S. Davis Cup team in Australia? Some angry Aussies wielding rackets? Boomerangs thrown head high from the stands? Are Tom Gorman and his team walking off the boat into the Great Barrier Reef or straight into the jaws of some tiger or what?

“Well, it’s not quite as dangerous as a tiger,” Gorman said.

No, probably not, but unless there’s an upset, the defending Davis Cup champions are going to be on the streets after the opening round and looking at something really frightening--the relegation round.

The U.S. team, which arrived today in Melbourne for next weekend’s first-round encounter, is definitely the underdog against an Australian squad of Wally Masur, Mark Woodforde, Todd Woodbridge and Jason Stoltenberg.

The Australians can make one substitution and Gorman wouldn’t be a bit shocked to see Pat Cash play, although that is not likely.

Gorman remains upbeat, which is fairly impressive since he had a bit of a struggle keeping his job with the United States Tennis Assn. even after winning his second Davis Cup title in three years last December.

“I see it close, no doubt about it, but our players are confident that if they play well, we can win,” he said.

Gorman had three-fourths of his team practicing on grass in Indian Wells last week--Brad Gilbert, Jim Grabb and Richey Reneberg. David Wheaton played doubles at the Lipton International Players Championship in Key Biscayne, Fla.

Gilbert, the only U.S. player with Davis Cup experience, pulled out of the Key Biscayne event because of a slight stomach muscle tear, but he has recovered, according to Gorman.

“Our players have beaten their players before, so there’s a lot of confidence on our side,” Gorman said. “I guess we’ll find out.”

Add Davis Cup: Fallout continues over the decisions by Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras not to play against Australia.

Agassi, a highly vocal supporter of John McEnroe for Davis Cup captain, has taken issue with recent statements by outgoing USTA President Bob Cookson that McEnroe lacks the maturity to be captain, now or in the near future.

“The USTA being conservative? That’s sort of redundant,” Agassi told Inside Tennis. “I think they’re afraid to do what’s right for the sport. To fear John losing his temper as a reason for him not being Davis Cup captain is completely ridiculous. It’s a total lack of respect.

“I did make it clear (to incoming USTA President Bumpy Frazier) what I thought was best for tennis and Davis Cup, not what’s best for me, and apparently that doesn’t hold much water. They’re more concerned about making sure the team shows up to celebrate with them than us winning or doing what’s right for Davis Cup. I think that’s a joke.”

Worst excuse: Boris Becker pulled himself out of the Key Biscayne event because he had a fever of 99 degrees. Come on. Becker’s Wimbledon victories probably generated temperatures higher than that.

Could it be that Becker really didn’t want to play after waiting six days for a match because of rain? Right you are. Give that man an umbrella.

Bruinmania: UCLA’s men’s team, 16-0 and ranked No. 1, is gearing up for the NCAA tournament. But the Bruins are also circling April 9 on their calendars because that is when they will have their rematch with USC.

Last week in Westwood, UCLA defeated second-ranked USC in a 5-hour 30-minute marathon, 5-4. The winning points were scored in the final match of the day, a three-set victory by the No. 1 doubles team of Sebastian LeBlanc and Robert Janacek, both Canadians, over USC’s Jon Leach and Brian MacPhie, 7-6, 2-6, 7-5.

There is a chance that USC’s top singles player, David Ekerot, will be ready to play in the rematch. Ekerot has been sidelined because of a hip injury and USC is trying to bring him along in time for the NCAA tournament.

Cover girl: Recognize the dark-haired woman in the white dress on the cover of Shape magazine? It’s none other than Monica Seles, who said, “I’m trying to find a balance so that I can have long muscles but still be strong.”

Weakened by flu, Seles pulled out at Key Biscayne, but will defend her title this week in the Virginia Slims of Houston.

Tennis Notes

The 94th Ojai Valley tournament, which will be played April 22-25, will be dedicated to Arthur Ashe, who won four Ojai titles in the 1960s. Ashe won the men’s open singles title in 1962, the men’s intercollegiate Pacific Coast Conference singles title in 1964 and 1965, and the men’s intercollegiate doubles title in 1965 with UCLA teammate Ian Crookenden. Ashe is one of 25 Ojai finalists who went on to win at Wimbledon, a list that includes Bill Tilden, Helen Wills, Ellsworth Vines, Bobby Riggs, Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzalez, Maureen Connolly, Billie Jean King, Stan Smith and Jimmy Connors.

Tracy Austin, after losing to Stephanie Rottier, 6-3, 6-1, in the first round at Key Biscayne, after upsetting No. 12 Katerina Maleeva in the Evert Cup: “I knew there were going to be good times and bad in my comeback.”. . . Jennifer Capriati was another first-round loser, but it was her first match in six weeks. . . . Lori McNeil has parted ways with John Garrison, and is working with Juan Nunez, who used to coach Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. And Dennis Ralston is coaching Gabriela Sabatini, replacing Carlos Kirmayr.