Australian Davis Cup Team: Lleyton Hewitt, the captain of Australia, claimed that after his team’s Davis Cup final defeat to Canada in Malaga on Sunday, he attempted to get Nick Kyrgios in.
Denis Shapovalov defeated Thanai Kokkinakis in straight sets (6-2, 6-4) to put Canada ahead early in their second final in four years. The doubles match was unimportant because Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets as well (6-3, 6-4), giving Canada their first Davis Cup victory.
Australia’s fortunes would have been different if 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios had been on the squad. Australia might have used the firepower of the No. 22 in the world, who is known for his powerful serves and ferocious groundstrokes, against the powerful Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime.
Lleyton Hewitt, the captain of Australia, said in a press conference that he worked “hard” to get Kyrgios but had to settle for the team he had. He stated:
“I am at a loss for effort. No doubt. I make an effort to bring the strongest team I can muster.”
De Minaur interjected and stated:
“I have also tried. Was simply not meant to be.”
Australia has won the Davis Cup 28 times, however, the last time they did so was in 2003. Their most successful player, Hewitt (59-21), played in a stunning 43 matches over a period of 19 years.
Nick Kyrgios forgoes the Davis Cup for a lucrative exhibition match in Saudi Arabia.
Australia’s top player in both singles and doubles, Nick Kyrgios, has had an outstanding 2022 season in both.
After teaming up with Thanasi Kokinakkis to win the Australian Open men’s doubles championship, the 27-year-old advanced to his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon (where he was defeated by Novak Djokovic).
He most recently competed in doubles alongside Kokkiankis at the ATP Finals in Turin (exited in the group stage), but he did not travel with his teammates to Malaga for the Davis Cup.
The Wimbledon finalist hasn’t competed since 2019, but his choice to play in a lucrative exhibition match in Saudi Arabia has sparked questions about his dedication to the squad.
From December 8–10, Kyrgios will compete in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia, where he will get a six-figure appearance fee. From December 19 to 24, he will compete in the World Tennis League in Dubai.
The other athletes scheduled to compete in the exhibition match in Saudi Arabia were Cameron Norrie, Daniil Medvedev, Alexender Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, and Andrey Rublev.
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