BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON -- U.S. Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson is on the lookout for a player to compete against Italy in the semifinals Sept. 25-27 in Milwaukee.
Todd Martin, Jim Courier and Richey Reneberg have committed to the team. Andre Agassi, a stalwart of the U.S. squad, can't play because of a conflict with his charitable foundation in Las Vegas. Pete Sampras already has said no. Michael Chang has been hurt most of the year.
So Gullikson likely will tap another player to join the U.S. squad. Three candidates play today: Jan-Michael Gambill, 21, meets qualifier Olivier Delaitre (about 1 p.m., Grandstand Court), and Justin Gimelstob, 21, and Vince Spadea, 24, square off (about 1 p.m., Court 3).
All three have served as practice partners for the U.S. team. "You've gotta go with guys who've been loyal," Gullikson said.
Gimelstob may have a slight edge because he's a solid doubles player. He has won mixed doubles titles this year with Venus Williams at the Australian and French Opens. He is playing with Martin in this week's doubles competition.
"Tom Gullikson wanted us to try a few different combinations to see what the names look like on paper, if you will," Martin said. "It's possible that (Gimelstob) could be with us in September, but I'm not the captain."
Gullikson, runner-up in the ATP Seniors Championship, hopes to pick a player before the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31.
He is not hurting for interested parties.
"I'd probably consider donating an unnecessary limb to play Davis Cup," Gimelstob said. "It's up there in my goals of why I play tennis and why I work so hard and why I do the things I do."
And what what those limbs be?
"Maybe like a finger."
Gimelstob, ranked No. 86, defeated No. 44 Spadea two weeks ago in Los Angeles in their only meeting of the year. Spadea won in two sets last year in Toulouse, France.
"The winner of the Spadea-Gimelstob match isn't going to make the Davis Cup team," Gimelstob said. "There's far more to it. . . . For a young guy, you have to do something exceptional to make it."
Spadea is having one of his best years, including a victory over Patrick Rafter. He has never finished higher than 54 in the year-end rankings. The opportunity to be on the Davis Cup team, he said, would be a big deal.
But he has concentrated this year more on improving, being consistent and developing his career. Davis Cup has not been a part of his schedule. "Whatever happens, happens," Spadea said. "If I'm asked to be a part of the situation, it's a great honor, but it's not like I'm thinking if I won this match I'd have more of a chance to be involved." Gambill, who has risen from 176 at the end of '97 to No. 61. Agassi, who lost to Gambill in March, has been a big backer of the 21-year-old. Gambill was a practice partner with the Davis Cup team in Atlanta this spring and Indianapolis in July.
If Gambill were to win two matches here, he could end up meeting Sampras.
"I would hope I'm a candidate (for the Davis Cup team)," Gambill said. "I would kill for a chance. Just being there makes you want it all that much more. I would absolutely love to play for my country." He acknowledged that Gullikson has a tough decision to make. The Americans lost to Sweden in the 1997 Davis Cup final and have not won the event since '95.
"Whatever Gully makes for a decision I'll support," Gambill said. "But I'd love to be the one that he chooses."
