No Silver Lining for U.S. Davis Cup

There will be no more rounds of calling and cajoling this year for U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson. The official respite from those tiresome duties came with the culmination of the Davis Cup semifinals as Italy defeated the United States, 4-1, on Sunday.

What is next for the U.S. in 1999 may not be different from the last few months, a period of turmoil resulting in one of the most embarrassing home losses in the Open era.

In 1987, the United States lost a relegation match, 3-2, at Hartford, Conn., to West Germany, but the opposition was led by Boris Becker. In 1973, the Americans lost in the final, 5-0, at Cleveland, to Australia, but the winners had Rod Laver and John Newcombe.

This time, the opposition had No. 37-ranked Andrea Gaudenzi and No. 47 Davide Sanguinetti. On Sunday, 33-year-old Gianluca Pozzi defeated Justin Gimelstob, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, in the meaningless reverse singles at Milwaukee Arena. Pozzi, ranked 59th, is the oldest player in the tour’s top 200.

One of the louder cheers of the day stopped play when Gimelstob was serving at 5-5 in the first set. The Green Bay Packers scored and fans watching on TV in the arena concourse started cheering. Gimelstob said, “Say that louder!”

“It is great how much they support the Packers, but they were crazy out there,” he said.

Later, Jan-Michael Gambill averted the shutout when he defeated Sanguinetti, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Gambill and Gimelstob, both 21, made their Davis Cup debuts against Italy. The youth movement became a necessity when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang opted out. Then Gullikson did not use former No. 1 Jim Courier, who played the role of bench-warmer in the semifinals. That decision surprised the Italians.

“It’s difficult on our side to understand these things,” Italian captain Paolo Bertolucci said. “I’m sure he [Gullikson] had his reasons, and I hope he waited until Wednesday night to make a decision for sure. But if you have the ex-No. 1 in the world and he makes himself available, it’s a little hard to understand.”

Should the likes of Sampras, Agassi and Chang continue to distance themselves from the Davis Cup, the outcome in Milwaukee may not be an aberration. Martin struggled in the role of the No. 1. Gambill and Gimelstob had rookie jitters, a common occurrence. The other players may not be eager to answer Gullikson’s calls, but Gambill and Gimelstob said this experience did not stifle their Davis Cup enthusiasm.

“It’s always been my dream to play for my country in Davis Cup. I’m always going to support Tom and my country--no matter what,” Gambill said. “That’s just how I think. It’s just unfortunate that some of the other guys don’t think that way, whatever their reasons are.”

Gullikson said he wants to return in 1999 as captain, even after the recent discontent and this lost weekend. He has been captain since 1994.

“It’s part of the job,” he said. “Things don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes you lose when you think you are going to win. Sometimes, players who we think should be playing aren’t playing. That’s the way it is.

“That is why when we get back to it and maybe win it next time, it will make it all that much sweeter remembering the harder times.”