Andre Agassi will return to the U.S. Davis Cup squad this week if Patrick McEnroe has his way.
The eight-times Grand Slam champion has not played for his country for five years but U.S. captain McEnroe is hoping the current camaraderie in his team could tempt the 34-year-old back into the fold.
"Andre expressed interest in playing ... because he's seen what these guys have done to the team. He's seen the chemistry, the camaraderie and the commitment that our young guys have," McEnroe said on Monday.
"I think he'd like to be a part of it. He genuinely thinks 'This could be something fun and something good for me and good for where I am in my life'.
"I take that as a compliment to what we've done and what specifically our players have done, where he's watched from afar and taken a keen interest."
McEnroe does not need Agassi to commit to every match, he is happy to cut a deal.
"When Andre played Davis Cup, he was committed to it. He committed to it whenever," he said. "I think he finds that right now, it's hard for him to commit to every match because of his family and his responsibilities and because he is going to be 35 and it's a little taxing on him.
ALLEVIATE FEAR
"My job is to alleviate his fear that we don't necessarily have to have him play every match. That's the way I look at.
"I don't need to hear from Andre 'I'm going to play every match'.
"My feeling is, let's see how it goes. Let's get you to play in the first round and let's see what happens and take it from there. The second round is right after Wimbledon, if we win, let's cross that bridge when we get to it."
Still, however, McEnroe rates the chances of an Agassi return at less than 50-50.
"I don't have any expectation other than I hope he says yes," he said. "He opened the door as far having a discussion and hearing what I had to say and that's the first time that's really happened since I've been the captain."
Runners-up in Seville this year, the U.S. host Croatia next month in the first round of the elite World Group.
"In my mind, I have to field the best team I can and I have to exhaust all possibilities," McEnroe said. "That means that getting on a plane and sitting down with him (Agassi) face to face, that's a small price to play for trying to get him to join up.
"Obviously, having him on our team helps our chances. We've had a good couple of runs, making the semis in 2002 and the finals last year, but we'd like to win it."
