Gorman’s Tenure Is in Doubt : Davis Cup: The U.S. captain might be replaced next year despite leading the team to three consecutive finals.

MINNEAPOLIS — The morning sun shone brightly on his red, white and blue sweater with the stars embroidered across his shoulders as Tom Gorman left his downtown hotel, signed a few autographs, strode briskly down the sidewalk and jaywalked across 7th Street to the Target Center.

For at least one morning, it was a great day to be the U.S. Davis Cup captain. There will be others, but just how many, well, that is not exactly clear.

Maybe it doesn’t matter that for the third consecutive year in Gorman’s seven-year tenure as Davis Cup captain, the United States will play in the final, this time against Switzerland, Dec. 4-6 in Ft. Worth.

Although it seems strange that Gorman could be shown the door even if he leads the United States to a second Davis Cup title in three years, that is exactly what could happen.

John McEnroe, who has said for two years that he would like to be Davis Cup captain, said Saturday after the United States clinched its semifinal match against Sweden that his timetable may now be set back.

“If we win this thing . . . you don’t necessarily want to change a winning formula,” McEnroe said.

The Davis Cup captain is appointed by the U.S. Tennis Assn., which in the midst of changing its key officers has not yet decided whether to keep Gorman for 1993.

“No, it’s not a done deal,” said J. Howard (Bumpy) Frazer, whose term as USTA president begins in March. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Gorman’s fate will be decided by Frazer, outgoing president Bob Cookson and Davis Cup chairman David Markin.

“We’ll get together and make a decision by mutual agreement,” Frazer said. “Obviously, Tom has done a great job. Obviously, John is a great inspiration. And there are other candidates. I certainly respect the job that Tom has done.”

Does that sound like vote of confidence? Besides McEnroe, Stan Smith is most often mentioned as a possible replacement.

Gorman, 46, who has won a record 16 matches as Davis Cup captain, has a clear understanding of how his job works.

“Whatever happens happens,” he said. “I don’t have any control over that. I’m doing the best job I can do, that’s for sure.”

However, Gorman realized the irony of his situation.

“I’ve now been at it seven years, I have the most wins as captain, we’re in our third straight final, but all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Gee whiz, maybe it’s time for a new captain,’ ” Gorman said.

“Maybe the job is just a five-year tenure type of thing, I don’t know.”

Arthur Ashe, who preceded Gorman as captain, was fired in 1985 after the United States lost to Germany in the second round.

Gorman said he realized long ago that the best way to handle the unsettled nature of his job was to leave the politics to the USTA and concentrate on tennis. In that regard, he must choose his players for Switzerland as well as what surface on which they will play.

Gorman said to expect the same players for the final that beat Sweden--Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and McEnroe.

“When you see those four guys out there, it’s pretty awesome,” Gorman said.

As for the surface to be installed at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Gorman said there are two choices, red clay like the court at the Target Center, or a cement hard court.

Gorman predicted that McEnroe would change his mind and play tournament tennis, which would then help McEnroe keep a doubles spot on next year’s Davis Cup team.

“He’ll play,” Gorman said. “I just don’t see John saying, ‘OK, that was a nice year, goodby.’ Too much was accomplished . . . I want him on the (Davis Cup) team and he’ll be on the team if he’s playing well.”

Davis Cup Notes

Attendance Sunday was 11,814, although both singles matches were meaningless because the United States clinched the victory over Sweden by winning the doubles Saturday . . . Magnus Larsson defeated Jim Courier, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), and Andre Agassi beat Nicklas Kulti, 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 6-4 in the matches. . . . Stefan Edberg, who pulled out of his singles match Sunday because of a strained thigh muscle, said he would favor the United States over Switzerland. “They have the best team on paper, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “It would be difficult for any country to beat them, but it is not an impossible mission.” . . . Switzerland’s players are No. 29 Jakob Hlasek and No. 57 Marc Rosset. They also are the Italian Open and French Open doubles champions.