McEnroe courts LTA job

John McEnroe has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant position of performance director of the Lawn Tennis Association.

The American, three times champion of Wimbledon, has declared an interest in replacing Patrice Hagelauer, who is leaving the LTA to become France's Davis Cup coach. McEnroe will take a more proactive approach if he gets the job.

"You need to get out there with the kids and be playing with them, be around them and tell them what it's about," he said. "I don't think recently there's been enough people in Britain to do that."

McEnroe has strong ties to British tennis. He acts in an ambassadorial role, promoting tennis in UK inner cities, and John Crowther, chief executive of the LTA and the man who will ultimately make the decision on who succeeds Hagelauer, said the organisation wanted to strengthen ties with the seven-times grand slam winner. "We are keen to explore all possible options to work with John in some capacity," he said.

Crowther and Hagelauer will be drawing up a shortlist for the job of director of tennis after the first-round Davis Cup ties, which start on February 7. Tim Henman's former coach David Felgate is another who has apparently dropped heavy hints that he is interested in the job. Other candidates are expected to include the former coach of the Swedish Davis Cup team, Carl-Axel Hageskog, and the Australian Bob Brett.

Goran Ivanisevic, who this week returned to action in a low-key Challenger event in Germany, says he will play at Wimbledon only if he is confident of winning another title there. After his remarkable victory in 2001 he missed last year's event after shoulder surgery.

"I would like to play Wimbledon once again but I do not want just to come and then fly back after the first match," he said. "Every time I arrive at Wimbledon I have a feeling I can win the tournament."

Pete Sampras, who has not played since winning his 14th grand slam title in the US Open in September, has told a French news agency that he still believes he can win the French Open, the one major title to elude him.

He did admit, however, that this year might be his last chance before he retires. "This may very well be my final shot at it," he said. "I'm not 100% sure either way."