Ivanisevic puts Croatia captaincy bid on hold
Tue Jan 3, 2006 9:37 AM GMT164
ZAGREB, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic has decided to put on hold his bid to become Croatia's Davis Cup captain.
The 34-year-old said he wanted to be his country's next skipper after they beat Slovakia to win the Davis Cup for the first time in December.
Media reports suggested Ivanisevic would take over from Niki Pilic in time for their first round tie against Austria in Graz in February.
However, Ivanisevic told the Jutarnji List daily: "I thought it over and over and consulted with people whose opinion I respect.
"This is a delicate moment. We won the Davis Cup and now face Austria. There was just too much talk about this and I don't want this to look like I was pushing.
"Niko (Pilic) must lead the team in 2006. When he decides to leave, my time will come. I will certainly be the captain, but not this year."
For most of last year Ivanisevic assisted Pilic in leading the team. Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon as a wild card in 2001, came out of retirement for the Davis Cup final and was in the squad but did not play. Ivanisevic, Pilic and national tennis association officials were due to meet in mid-January to agree on who would lead the team in the future.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/new...103:MTFH09184_2006-01-03_09-37-27_L03308837:1
Ivanisevic to wait on captaincy
Goran Ivanisevic has put on hold his bid to become captain of Davis Cup champions Croatia.
The former Wimbledon champion, 34, said he wanted to be Croatia's next captain after they beat Slovakia to win the Cup for the first time in December.
But he told the Jutarnji List newspaper that current captain Niko Pilic should continue "as long as he wants to".
"When he decides to leave, my time will come. I will certainly be the captain, but not this year," Ivanisevic added.
Ivanisevic assisted Pilic in leading the team for most of last year, and he said he wanted to continue in that role.
"I will be at Pilic's disposal as much as it will be necessary. I am ready and I am here," he said.
But he added that it was the wrong time to become captain.
"I thought it over and over and consulted with people whose opinion I respect," Ivanisevic said.
"This is a delicate moment. We won the Davis Cup and now face Austria. There was just too much talk about this and I don't want this to look like I was pushing."
The 34-year-old Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon as a wild card in 2001, came out of retirement for the final and was on the team but did not play.
Croatia will begin the defence of their title against Austria in Graz in February.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4562378.stm