As soon as there was an opening for a new U.S. Davis Cup captain, Jim Courier began lobbying for the job.
His aggressive approach worked.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Courier was hired by the U.S. Tennis Association to lead the country's Davis Cup team, replacing Patrick McEnroe, who resigned last month.
The USTA planned to introduce Courier as its choice at a news conference in New York on Wednesday.
Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and highest-ranked American man, tweeted Wednesday: ''jim courier new davis cup captain.... great choice!''
McEnroe served as U.S. captain for 10 years, winning the 2007 Davis Cup to end the country's 12-year drought.
Saying he wanted to dedicate time to his family and his other jobs, McEnroe abruptly announced during the U.S. Open - where Courier was working as an analyst for CBS Sports - that he was stepping down. Within less than an hour of McEnroe's departure being reported, Courier said on TV during his network's coverage of the tournament that he would be interested in leading the team.
As a player, Courier helped the United States win the Davis Cup in 1992 and 1995, and he finished with a 16-10 record in singles, 1-0 in doubles.
Known for his big-cut groundstrokes and white baseball cap, Courier was part of a phenomenal generation of U.S. tennis talent that also included Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Michael Chang.
Agassi called Courier an ''inspired choice'' as captain.
''Jim has the experience, integrity and focus needed to bring the U.S. Davis Cup to new heights,'' Agassi said in a statement released Wednesday. ''I know first hand that a man with Jim's credentials as a warrior and a champion will bring out the best in our players and our fans.''
Courier was No. 1 in the ATP rankings for a total of 58 weeks in 1992-93. He won the French Open in 1991 and 1992, and the Australian Open in 1992 and 1993, and played in three other Grand Slam finals.
The 40-year-old Courier retired from the professional tour in 2000 and was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.
On the day he resigned, McEnroe mentioned Courier and 1999 U.S. Open runner-up Todd Martin as clear candidates for the position. The USTA also considered 1996 Wimbledon runner-up MaliVai Washington.
Courier's 2011 debut as Davis Cup captain will come in the first round at Chile on March 4-6. If the Americans win, they would face Spain or Belgium in the July 8-10 quarterfinals.
In McEnroe's final series, the United States beat host Colombia 3-1 in September to remain in the World Group, the competition's top tier.
The Americans have won the Davis Cup a record 32 times.
