Kyrgios Missing Davis Cup Practices at Kooyong; Illness, Possible Injury?
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Will Nick Kyrgios be fit enough to face the U.S. in Davis Cup play beginning Friday?
ADHEREL
Kyrgios, who pulled from the Acapulco Dubai event mid-match versus Stan Wawrinka citing illness/injury/what-have-you, sat out of practice on Monday and Tuesday at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Kooyong, Australia.
“Nick has a virus,” said Aussie debut captain Lleyton Hewitt. “At the moment, he is taking it easy and trying to get over that 100% to be ready to go. I didn’t want him around the other boys if he is a bit infectious. It is more of a precaution. He will be ready.
“Nick has played a lot of matches, as well as Bernie [Tomic]. They are coming in confident with their ball striking and it is about these guys doing the small things to feel comfortable on the grass courts. Come match day, I am backing both of
these boys.”
If Kyrgios does not recover, Hewitt will likely be backing Sam Groth as a singles replacement, which would be a blow to the Aussies’ chances.
Hewitt says Kyrgios and Tomic provide the perfect one-two punch on grass.
“Both of their games suit grass with big serves and good returns,” Hewitt said. “The reason both boys are approaching career-high rankings right now is because of their serves. That will be a big point this weekend because the U.S. team serves well, too. It will come down to a few points here or there.”
Injuries are also a question mark for the secluded Kyrgios, who weeks back in Dubai suffered from back and hips problems.
U.S. captain Jim Courier is preparing for the best from the Aussies who have framed themselves as the “underdogs” in the home tie.
“It doesn’t matter one bit,” Courier said of any underdog status. “We are the away team and we traveled to get here. The crowd will be behind them. We are here to play whether it is as an underdog or overdog. None of that matters, which I wish it did. We have to go to battle and play.”
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