US Davis Cup captain Jim Courier has no intention of resigning

Jim Courier has no intention of resigning as Davis Cup captain after the USA suffered a first-round defeat in the competition for the second year in a row.

The Americans have yet to reach the Davis Cup final during Courier's five-year reign but the former world No 1 - a two-time Davis Cup winner as a player - said leaving his post was not something he would even consider.

"Have you ever seen a captain quit in the middle of the year?," he said when asked about his future in the role.

"Unless you know something I don’t know and I’m being fired, I'm planning to be there.

"I love being captain of the team. I plan to be here for at least the next year. That’s what my contract says."

I love being captain of the team. I plan to be here for at least the next year. That’s what my contract says.

Clearly riled, he added: "It's a curious question but I certainly appreciate your negativity."

Courier, whose next tie as captain will be a play-off in September which they will need to win stay in the elite World Group of 16 nations, added he was hurting after the loss, saying it was not easier to take just because he was no longer a player.

"To me, it feels pretty similar. I'm in battle with those guys. I don’t get to hit a shot but I do get to sit on the bench and chat with them in between points. Yeah, it’s painful. If it’s not painful, I shouldn’t be the captain. I think that’s a true statement for anyone involved."

Andy Murray was the Briton who sealed defeat for Courier’s men with a straight-sets win over John Isner but Courier was happy with his player's performance against what he described as Isner's "toughest match-up."

"He's going to be down for a little bit, I'm sure, but he needs to get up because he has a big tournament he can play well in in Indian Wells (starting on Thursday) and I fell like today’s match is the kind of tennis which can turn his year round.

"What I truly believe is Andy Murray is the toughest match-up for John in the world because Andy is probably the best guy in defending and blunting his power. He can chip and chop the returns back then use his wheels to play defence.

"I like his chances even more against Novak (Djokovic), believe it or not, than against Andy because of the match-up. It’s a one-on-one sport – match-ups matter and he pushed Andy to the brink and I guarantee you Andy was probably the most miserable on the court winning in three sets in a long time.

"That’s what John needs to do. He needs to make people miserable. He did a great job of that today. Didn't get the result he wanted but that’s the kind of tennis that he needs to constantly play and when he plays that way he's beaten nearly every great player in the game."