McEnroe to oversee elite player development

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Patrick McEnroe took on a new job Wednesday: saving U.S. tennis.

The Davis Cup captain and former top-30 player was hired to oversee player development for the U.S. Tennis Association. The goal is to reverse the recent decline in American fortunes on the men's and women's tours.

"The world has caught up in some ways. But that's OK," McEnroe said. "My job is really going to be to work within the tennis community, to find those elite players that we think can become champions, to give them that pathway, to give them the opportunities to become great players."

McEnroe also received a three-year contract extension as Davis Cup coach. Last year, he led the Americans to their first title since 1995.

While Europe, Asia and South America have had increasing success in developing top-100 players, the grooming of talent in the United States has stalled. In 2007, for the only the second time in 20 years, no American made the singles finals at the U.S. Open.

There are nine U.S. women and eight men in the top 100.

The situation is especially bleak on the women's side, where only one American younger than 26 -- Ashley Harkleroad -- is in the top 100 compared to five American men.

"It's a new world," said Arlen Kantarian, the USTA's CEO for professional tennis. "We recognize the reality, and we're committed to change."

The USTA will increase spending on player development by 50 percent next year, Kantarian said. The association is creating a champions advisory board and coaches commission to help with talent identification, program development and coaching.

McEnroe's title in his newly created position is general manager of elite player development for the U.S. Tennis Association. He'll report to Kantarian.