NEW YORK. Sept 8: John McEnroe came to the US Open as a former tennis star and television commentator, but he is hoping to leave the tournament as the newly appointed US Davis Cup captain, reports Reuters.

The tennis rumour mill has been working overtime with leaks that McEnroe will be named to the post as early as Wednesday morning when United States Tennis Association president Judy Levering holds a press conference regarding the future of the US Davis Cup team.

"That would be excellent," said McEnroe, hoping the USTA will give him the nod. "Oh yeah, I've made-it known 1 want the Job. I would be upset with myself if I missed the opportunity.

"Last time, for some reason, they had the idea I wasn't interested in the job." McEnroe told.

While McEnroe insisted Tuesday afternoon that he has not received a final word on the Davis Cup captaincy, he did say. "I am speaking with the USTA and I don’t know 100 per cent, but I feel better than before that it will happen."

McEnroe seemed startled, however, when asked if he knew of any other candidates vying for the Davis Cup post. He said incredulously: "I didn't know there was any competition."

If the scuttlebutt proves true. McEnroe will replace Tom Gul-likson. who has held the post since 1994 and led the Americans to victory in 1995.

Gullikson recently came under fire when he failed to play Pete Sampras — at Sampras' re-Suest — as a singles player in ae July quarterfinal tie against Australia. The United States fell to Australia 4-1 in that tie held near Boston.