Tennis: Becker takes charge of German Davis Cup team

Boris Becker has found himself a job to fill in the hours left vacant by his decision to retire from Grand Slam events.

The 29-year-old former Wimbledon champion is to take over the running of Germany's Davis Cup team from the current captain and manager, Niki Pilic.

The 58-year-old Pilic was expected to step down around the end of next year, but the German federation said its decision to replace him before that did not indicate any dissatisfaction with his performance, but was more about seizing the chance to take on Becker, who is to be team manager. Pilic will remain a consultant to the federation for the next two years.

Carl-Uwe Steeb, the former Davis Cup player, who helped Germany to their first triumph in the competition in 1988, was named team captain. He and Becker will both have a say in team selection, but Becker will have overall responsibility.

It was not all pats on the back for Becker yesterday, particularly in Vienna where the director of the CA Trophy, Leo Gunther Humer, called on the ATP Tour to take sanctions against him and Andre Agassi for their late withdrawals from this week's tournament which features Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.

Humer will ask for ranking points to be deducted from Becker and Agassi on Friday, when the ATP Tour board convenes in the Austrian capital.

Even before Humer's suggestion the topic was under consideration by the Tour, following a similar incident in Basle, where Pete Sampras, Patrick Rafter and Gustavo Kuerten all bowed out at short notice.

Agassi gave no explanation for pulling out of the CA Trophy, while Becker said that he was injured. The Vienna tournament was Becker's 10th withdrawal this year.