THE race for the world No. 1 ranking becomes more involved every week.  The latest information suggests I will finally be No. 1 in about a fortnight - provided Gustavo Kuerten does not win a couple of tournaments in the meantime.

Obviously, it would be a huge thrill to reach No. 1.  I have been close over the past three years - especially this season.  I had the chance to get to No. 1 in Rome, where I lost to Kuerten in the final, and in the Wimbledon semi-finals against Andre Agassi.

If I had won either of those matches, I would have been No. 1.

It is ironic in a way that I will not have played on the ATP tour or in a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon, and yet the No. 1 ranking could come my way on July 26.

Whatever is said about the current ranking system, it is a reflection of your total 12 month performance.  If you look back at the past 12 months, I have won five tournaments, including the US Open.

Agassi is currently 11 ranking points ahead of me, but some of his points drop off on July 26.  None of mine come off until a week later, so I will have a great chance to go to No. 1.

Not only will it be a lot of fun, if I do, but it will also be the fulfilment of a life-long ambition.  As a kid, I was not cocky enough to go around predicting that one day I would.

IT is going to be pretty tough on Friday coming up against the US Davis Cup team of Jim Courier and Pete Sampras.

I remember making my debut against Russia in St Petersburg in 1994 and losing to Alwxander Volkov and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.  I did not deal with the pressures of the occasion very well.  I remember feeling not only was I playing for myself,
but also my teammates and my country.

I think Lleyton Hewitt will definitely handle it much better than I did.  He has an incredible attitude and if he can sink his teeth into the matches, he is not going to let go quickly.

And Andrew Ilie is never going to die wondering.  So whoever takes Mark Philippoussis's place in the team is going to do Australia proud.