THE SCOOP: WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

Johnny Mac behind Ferreira for reasons undetermined
Michael Joyce reconsiders hanging up his sneakers

By Richard Osborn and Tom A. McFerson
Special to tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA, Inc.

John McEnroe has made it clear that he wants to play a role in shaping the future of the game. The 44-year-old has often said that his sport needs a "Czar of Tennis" à la the NBA's David Stern. But don't expect him to be mediating the dispute between the ATP and the breakaway International Men's Tennis Association.

At a recent World Team Tennis match in Sacramento, McEnroe said of IMTA president Wayne Ferreira, "I'm not sure exactly what his points are, but without even knowing what his points are, I'd say he has some good points."

Don't hold your collective breath if you're waiting for Mac to join forced with the USTA again. McEnroe, who openly campaigned for the US Davis Cup captaincy only to quit his after a brief stint in 2000 [three ties, to be exact], says he's not sure if he can see himself getting involved with American tennis' governing body again.

"Let's put it this way," said McEnroe. "I resigned after one year from a job I'd love to have. That should give you an idea of how I feel about it. I played Davis Cup on and off for 15 years when I was asked to, then I was the Davis Cup captain, which should potentially be a good job. But I'll leave it to my brother to lose his hair."

Since taking over for his brother in February 2001, Patrick McEnroe has guided the U.S. to a 3-3 record. Despite the inspired play of newcomers Andy Roddick and James Blake, the Americans haven't won Dwight's Little Pot since 1995, when Pete Sampras almost single-handedly led the US past the Russians in Moscow 3-2.

The state of the 44-year old Johnny Mac's senior game is also hazy. "If I play well, then people will see I can still play. If I don't play well, they'll still see I can play. But I'd prefer to play well," Mac said.

Michael Joyce reconsiders hanging up his sneakers
A change of plans might be in order for Michael Joyce.

After an impressive first round win – 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (4) – over Jan-Michael Gambill Tuesday at the Mercedes Benz Cup in Los Angeles, Joyce, who had been contemplating retirement, might now reconsider.

"I had been thinking about possibly stopping at the end of the year. I never expected to beat somebody of Gambill’s caliber. That might change my mind a little bit."

Following a wrist operation at the end of 1997, Joyce sat out all of 1998. Since then, the struggle to get back has been long and difficult.

"I started back beginning of 1999, and the next thing you know, it’s 2003. And I’m still trying. The last few years have been really tough. If you come down just a tad because of an injury or something mentally on your mind, it can be the difference between being fifty in the world or being three hundred," he said.

Joyce had felt his game improving this year, however, and the win over Gambill just confirms this. "Physically and mentally I feel really good. I think I’m playing probably better tennis now then I did when I was ranked sixty in the world. It’s just a matter of getting back up there. It’s tough."

Originally scheduled for Monday night, Gambill and Joyce were rained out at five games apiece. Their match resumed early Tuesday afternoon, with both players very aware of how important the first set was.

Joyce said, "It’s always tough to start a match at five all, because you have to get going right from the beginning. I was real happy to get the first set under my belt."

Gambill dominated the second set, and looked to do the same in the third, with several chances to break the set open. But Joyce hung tough and took the third set to a tiebreak. Next thing he knew, Joyce had match point.

"I was concentrating so hard I didn’t even think about it being match point, or winning or losing," Joyce said.

Joyce lost his second-round match to top-seed Lleyton Hewitt, 6-3, 6-0.