Nick Kyrgios‘ long absence from the Davis Cup could be set to end after the 29-year-old was named as a shock inclusion in captain Lleyton Hewitt‘s Australia team. It comes as Hewitt’s 16-year-old son Cruz saw his hopes of playing in the year’s first grand slam ended on Tuesday after losing his first round Australian Open qualifying match in straight sets.

In a mixed bag of news for Aussie tennis, Kyrgios’ Australian Open-winning doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis was also part of the four-man team that Hewitt named for the qualifying tie in Sweden on January 31 and February 1, alongside regulars Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson. But it’s the inclusion of Kyrgios that has raised eyebrows, particularly after the injury-plagued star revealed after his exit in the first round of the Brisbane International that he was no certainty to play the Australian Open.

Kyrgios needed reconstructive surgery on his wrist in 2023 and admitted after losing to big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Brisbane that it was throbbing in pain afterwards. Kyrgios also suggested it would take a ‘miracle’ for him to compete at Melbourne Park. The 29-year-old has shown little desire to play in the Davis Cup in previous years, citing negativity from fans and the sense he is not warmly embraced by Australians as reasons for turning down the green and gold. He also decided to play in a lucrative exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, rather than represent his country, with his last Davis Cup appearance coming against Belgium in November 2019.

Nick Kyrgios named in strong Aussie Davis Cup squad

However, the Aussie firebrand is evidently back in the fold and provides another interesting option for Hewitt in the doubles if his body cannot stand up to the rigours of singles. Hewitt still has one more spot to fill in his side but looks set to wait and see how things pan out at the Australian Open – starting on Sunday – before naming the fifth and final member of the Aussie team.

Hewitt’s men will start as overwhelming favourites in the tie against Sweden – led by World No.8 de Minaur and No.27 Thompson, who’s also the No.3-ranked doubles player. Kyrgios and Kokkinakis are also doubles grand slam winners and offer Hewitt another option. Sweden’s team will feature World No.327 Elias Ymer, with 21-year-old Leo Borg – son of tennis legend Bjorn – their number-two ranked player at World No.543. Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi will be their doubles duo.

RELATED:

Thanasi Kokkinakis wins through to next round in Adelaide

Kokkinakis gave Hewitt a reminder of his quality and tuned up for the singles at the Australian Open by coming through a tricky first round clash with Japanese left-hander Yoshihito Nishioka at the Adelaide International on Monday night. The Aussie – who won the event in 2022 – claimed the 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory just before midnight in what is becoming an increasingly familiar situation for the 28-year-old.

Kokkinakis played brilliantly in the first set but then suffered a lapse of concentration in the second stanza when seemingly in control as Nishioka forced a deciding set. But Kokkinakis broke twice to take a 5-1 lead before another fightback from his Japanese rival, who saved three match points before eventually going down. Kokkinakis hit 41 winners and 15 aces in the win which sees him join fellow Aussie Chris O’Connell in the next round after he beat Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Cruz Hewitt fails in bid to qualify for Aus Open

The news wasn’t so good for Hewitt’s son Cruz on Tuesday, with the 16-year-old losing to former World No.16 Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round of Australian Open qualifying. The young Hewitt was looking to emulate his famous father by qualifying for the main draw at Melbourne Park but will have to wait a little longer after going down 6-1 6-4 against the Georgian.

Cruz was handed a brutal first-up assignment and was blown away by Basilashvili in a lopsided opening set. But the youngster showed his dad’s fighting spirit to take the match to the Georgian in the second stanza, only to come up agonisingly short.

The 16-year-old needed to get past Basilashvili and win two more matches to book a ticket into the year’s first grand slam, and had opportunities to break the Georgian late in the second set. But his 32-year-old opponent’s experience helped get him across the line to end Cruz’s dream of making his Australian Open debut in 2025.

with AAP