Nick Kyrgios back in Davis Cup fold after spat with Lleyton Hewitt
Nick Kyrgios is back in Australia’s Davis Cup side after a near two-year absence following a feud with captain Lleyton Hewitt.
Kyrgios will make his first Cup appearance since February last year, joining Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, John Millman and doubles specialist John Peers in Australia's five-man team.
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Australia have been pitted in Group D alongside Belgium and Colombia for the inaugural 18-team finals in Madrid from November 18-24.
Kyrgios is currently serving a six-month probation period for his spectacular meltdown in Cincinnati in August and subsequently branding the ATP corrupt at the US Open.
But his suspended sentence only applies to the ATP Tour and not Davis Cup.
Kyrgios back after spat with Hewitt
In February, Hewitt omitted Kyrgios from Australia’s Davis Cup clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying Kyrgios needed to change some of his behaviours.
The captain said Kyrgios wasn’t meeting the “cultural standards” set by Davis Cup coach Tony Roche and himself after Kyrgios was heard saying he “didn’t want to be there” during the Brisbane International in January.
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The former world No.1 said he wanted Australian players to always give 100 per cent to the sport and also be great role models.
“You have to enjoy going out there and playing and what Nick said in Brisbane and not actually wanting to be there at the tournament, I think that hurts one of our Australian events,” Hewitt said.
“Nick and I have had a great relationship but standards have to be set and the role I’m in you have to have standards.
“He’s got some work to do to get up to those standards.
“All I want guys to do is commit to the sport, work hard and want to play for Australia and I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
That came after Kyrgios took a dig at Hewitt on social media over his court-side support of de Minaur above other Australian players.
He also lashed out on Twitter at Hewitt’s former coach Roger Rasheed and former AFL champion Gerard Healy, with Hewitt talking to him about his use of social media.
“That’s one of the standards we can’t put up with just for the culture of Australian tennis,” Hewitt said.
“I don’t think it’s a good look, I’ve spoken to Nick about it and he understands that, but whether he learns from it, that’s another thing.”
Kyrgios opted out of Australia’s previous World Group playoff against Austria last September to save himself for the Laver Cup instead being staged a week later - a move that also didn’t sit well with hierarchy.
Those dramas came after weeks of public feuding between Hewitt and Bernard Tomic, who claimed he, Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis no longer wanted to play Davis Cup under Hewitt.
Kyrgios a huge boost for Australia
Kyrgios’ availability is a major boost for Hewitt, who has named his strongest possible team on rankings.
The skipper was unable to find room for young gun Alexei Popyrin, who has enjoyed a phenomenal 2019 season, highlighted by runs to the third round at the Australian Open and US Open.
The 20-year-old has also qualified for a record 10 events this year, including Wimbledon.
Australia face Colombia on November 19 and Belgium the next day.
If they can top Group D, they will qualify for the quarter-finals and meet either the USA, Italy or Canada for a place in the semis.
with AAP
