Hewitt fumes at Kyrgios over Davis Cup snub

1 year ago 92

Lleyton Hewitt and Alex de Minaur person aired their vexation astatine Nick Kyrgios' ongoing Davis Cup snub, claiming this year's Wimbledon finalist made himself unavailable for the last to pursuit a six-figure payday successful Saudi Arabia.

Hewitt's squad of Thanasi Kokkinakis, Max Purcell, Matt Ebden, de Minaur and Jordan Thompson courageously fought disconnected Croatia to scope Australia's archetypal Davis Cup last successful 19 years.

But first-time champions Canada clinched the rubric implicit Australia connected Monday morning pursuing victories to top-20 ranked players Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Kyrgios surpassed de Minaur arsenic the nation's No.1 ranked singles subordinate successful September, portion doubles titles astatine Washington, Atlanta and Melbourne Park alongside champion mate Kokkinakis solidified his spot arsenic Australia's apical doubles player.

But the 27-year-old hasn't played successful the Davis Cup since 2019 – the aforesaid twelvemonth helium missed enactment for "failing taste standards".

Instead of representing his state successful the men's squad event, Kyrgios is preparing to play successful the heavy criticised Diriyah Tennis Cup - a lucrative three-day accumulation lawsuit successful Saudi Arabia wherever helium is expected to prime up a six-figure quality interest conscionable for showing up.

He has besides signed up to play successful the World Tennis League successful Dubai adjacent month.

Despite a palmy tourney for Australia, Auger-Aliassime secured the winning constituent for the North Americans erstwhile helium downed de Minaur 6-3 6-4 successful their singles tie.

Speaking afterwards, a "gutted" Hewitt was incapable to explicate wherefore Kyrgios kept making himself unavailable for selection.

"I don't know. You person to inquire him. I can't effort immoderate harder," helium said portion adding that helium "of course" approached Kyrgios astir making a return.

"I effort and travel present with the champion imaginable squad we tin field."

De Minaur is besides frustrated with his countryman.

"I person tried arsenic well. [It's] conscionable wasn't meant to be," helium said of luring Kyrgios to the tournament.

An eagle-eyed societal media idiosyncratic besides questioned whether Kyrgios' exile was secretly referenced successful a de Minaur Instagram station connected Saturday.

In the post, de Minaur praised his Davis Cup teammates and said determination was "no greater honour" than representing his country.

Kyrgios near a elemental response: "About to spell to Saudi for 6 figures actually."

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