LONDON. Feb 1: Andre Agassi and John McEnroe, two of the greatest showmen in modern tennis, join forces in Harare this weekend at the start of their campaign to bring the Davis Cup back to the United States, reports Reuters.

To secure the top international tennis prize for the first time since 1995. the US must take time out of a hectic season's schedule to play our rounds of the three-day team competition involving defending champions Australia, runners-up France and 13 other nations.

McEnroe took over as US captain last October determined to spark in the American team the same passion for the Davis Cup that he felt as a player.

He has world number one Agassi, crowned Australian Open champion last Sunday, on his side but beaten semifinalist Pete Sampras has withdrawn with a hip strain suffered against Agassi during their epic five-set semifinal at Melbourne Park. Todd Martin also pulled out after the Open.

The United States have had a tough time in recent years persuading top players to drag their attention away from the lucrative men's tour for Davis Cup.

McEnroe blames bad scheduling for diminishing the Cup s Importance.

"I don't think we should have something that I'd like to consider as Important as the Grand Slams a week after a Grand Siam. The sport needs a break," he saifl. ....

Chris Woodruff and doubles specialist Rick Leach have been drafted In to join Agassi and Alex O'Brien in the team for the first round against Zimbabwe where they must overcome the experienced brothers Byron and Wayne Black

The surface Is going to be quick because of the altitude and there are not going to be a lot of real long points It's not going to be easy but we came here to try and win and that's i what we are planning to do." McEnroe said.

Back In Europe defending champions Australia, who took the title in Nice last December, play a Swiss team weakened by internal squabbling.

Davis Cup stalwart Marc Rosset pulled out after his former partner Jakob Hlasek was named captain without any consultation with the players. That left a youthful team of Roger Federer. George Bastl. Lorenzo Manta and Michel Kra-tochvil to play in Zurich.

Australian captain John Newcombe is too experienced a campaigner to talk up his side's chances, however.

The Swiss are a good team. Federer is a very good young player. They are playing at home so any tie like that is going to be a difficult one.” he said.

But with blg-hlttlng Mark Philippoussls, teenage prodigy Lleyton Hewitt and the solid backup of Sandon Stolle and Wayne Arthurs. Australia look hard to beat even in the unaccustomed chill of the European winter.

France have an awkward tie in Florianopolls In southern Brazil where home support will be at Its most raucous for local boy Gustavo Kuerten, a former French Open champion.

Temperatures have soared in the town recently, but the weather broke on Tuesday dampening the clay court surface that suits both teams.

Seasoned campaigner Cedric Plollne spearheaas tne French challenge which also includes Jerome Golrnard, Nicolas Escude and Sebastien Grosjean. Germany, who won the title three times between 1988 and 1993. take on the Netherlands in Leipzig while Spain, beaten by Brazil last year, meet Italy on clay in Murcia.

Beaten Australian Open finalist Yevgeny Kafelnikov will have had Tess than a week to overcome jetlag before leading Russia against Belgium.

But the fast indoor surface in Moscow was laid to suit the world number two and his singles team mate Marat Safin.

Britain who have not won the trophy since 1936 go to Ostrava to take on the Czech Republic without big-serving Grsg Rusedski who Is injured.

Top Briton Tim Henman will be supported by little known Nell Broad. Jaime Delgado and Arvind Parmar against Jiri Novak. Sia/a Dosedel. Michal Tabara and David RjkL

Neighbours Slovakia a ad Austria, who ousted Sweden to return to the world group for the first time in four years, meet in Bratislava on a slow man-made surface that should suit the ^s-itors well.