Thomas Muster returned to prominence after 5 years away from the game to top the Stanford Financial Champions Tour Rankings and become the first qualifier for the Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall (30 November - 5 December), and now he is seeking to breath new life into the rest of Austrian tennis.

Muster will enter the unknown when he captains Austria for the first time in his nation's Davis Cup World Group play-off against Great Britain, but is looking forward to the challenge.

"It is nice to stay in tennis," he said. "I'm still playing on the Delta Tour of Champions so it gives me a good solid base to travel, to still be involved in tennis, and to be involved in the future as well. It's nice for me to be able to give something back to Austria, to work with the juniors and show them what is really possible - make them believe in themselves that they can do it. I saw things as a player and I hope I can give that back to tennis in Austria."

Muster stopped playing on the regular tour in 1999, but never officially retired. After a 14-year career in which he put himself through a torturous training regime to win the French Open (in 1995) and become the No.1 player in the world, Muster finally allowed himself to relax.

He spent much of his time in Australia, and after four years of minimal physical activity, put on weight. So much so that he piled on 24 kilos and ballooned to 99 kg (218 pounds). On the advice of doctors, Muster began to exercise again, and cited the carrot of the Delta Tour of Champions as one of his inspirations for returning to his playing-weight of 75kg. The chance to once again compete with his contemporaries - John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Jim Courier - motivated him, and he now regularly turns back the clock with all the muscular intensity of his youth.

But, Muster also cared about his country's tennis fortunes, and when he was offered the job of Austrian Davis Cup captain, as well as a major role in the development of Austrian junior talent, it was too much to resist.

"I wasn't really sure if I wanted to do it because Gunther Bresnik had been the captain before me and had done a really good job for the team," said Muster. "But, his contract finished and I was asked. I had a few months to think about it and I said 'yes', but only if it was connected with the junior programme in Austria. I didn't want to just be captain, I wanted to be involved with junior programs in the country because tennis has not been so popular in Austria for a while," said Muster.

"I think we have done a good job so far, the numbers (of young players taking up the game) are increasing, kids are playing tennis again, and that is our goal - that is our ten year project.

"It's a really honourable job and I am looking forward to the Davis Cup tie against Great Britain."