In-form Nick Kyrgios again skips Australia’s Davis Cup charge

Nick Kyrgios has again opted out of the Davis Cup team with Alex de Minaur spearheading the Australian team in Hamburg, Germany next month.

Kyrgios has not played in the team event since 2019 and would have been a strong addition given his sparkling singles form plus grand slam-winning doubles combination with Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Team captain Lleyton Hewitt has still included Kokkinakis as a singles option for the group stage, alongside Australia’s top-ranked player and world No 20 De Minaur.

Wimbledon men’s doubles champions Matt Ebden and Max Purcell have been named while Alexei Popyrin and Jason Kubler will also travel to Germany in the six-man squad.

Australia are drawn in Pool C alongside Germany, France and Belgium and will compete at the Am Rothenbaum from 13 to 18 September.

De Minaur won both singles matches in Australia’s Davis Cup qualifier against Hungary in March and captured his sixth career ATP singles title in Atlanta in August.

Hewitt was disappointed not to have Kyrgios on board, with the world No 28 eager to get home after the US Open to spend time with his ill mother.

“It would have been great to have Nick [Kyrgios] in the team but unfortunately he was unavailable for this tie,” Hewitt said.

“We fought through a really tough qualifying match back in March against Hungary which has now given us this opportunity to build on and the boys understand what’s at stake. I look forward to Alex leading the team in Hamburg.”

Eliminated at the group stage last year, Australia are bidding for their 29th Davis Cup title and first since 2003.