Tennis wild child Nick Kyrgios has been dumped from Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final showdown with Andy Murray’s Great Britain.
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“The 20-year-old bad boy of world tennis has had an eventful year, recently incurring a suspended ban for taunting Stan Wawrinka in Montreal when he said: “[Thanasi] Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend.
According to Wally Masur, captain of the Australian Davis Cup team, “After a healthy discussion with Nick and his team we have agreed on a program to help him focus on his personal and professional development in order to have a successful and long-lasting in the future”.
“Next week’s tie has come a bit too soon for him and he is not in that plan”.
Britain will be led by Andy Murray who saw off Kyrgios 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the US Open first round which may have helped influence the Australians’ thinking.
The team will also feature Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Groth, and teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Captain Wally Masur insisted it was a decision taken in agreement with the player without mentioning the recent incidents in which Kyrgios has been embroiled.
Not since 1978 have Great Britain contested a Davis Cup final match, although they will be hoping to change that with victory in their semi-final later this month.
Tomic’s inclusion comes after a series of fall-outs with Tennis Australia.
Two players are in the frame to play in the singles alongside Murray for Britain, with James Ward and Kyle Edmund both named in the squad to play Australia.
Edmund, 20, is the superior player on clay and is also ranked at 103 in the world, compared with Ward’s 135.
Australia is looking to reach its first Davis Cup final since winning the trophy for a 28th time in 2003.
The Davis Cup tie begins in Glasgow, Scotland on September 18. The Aussie won that match but since then, has gone on to lose three straight to John Isner, Richard Gasquet, and Andy Murray respectively.
The other semi-final sees Belgium host Argentina.
The notoriously fiery Kyrgios, who was threatened with hefty fines and a suspension unless he cleaned up his on-court behaviour, sailed somewhat close to the wind in that match, having a go at the umpire after spectators were let in during the first set.
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“The tie in Darwin was the first time that I had the opportunity to have Nick in the squad and obviously he had been going through a lot prior to Darwin”, Masur said.
