Bernard Tomic has failed to make the cut for Australia’s Davis Cup team as his torrid season continues.
Captain Lleyton Hewitt has confirmed that his team will remain the same as the one who produced a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic earlier this year. Tomic’s omission from the tie comes as speculation mounts behind the reason.
Earlier this year the world No.44 made himself unavailable for the Davis Cup. The decision triggered a heated confrontation between Tomic and Hewitt. In February the former world No.1 said Tomic’s father was standing in the way of him reaching his full potential. The Tomic family has been engaged in a high-profile conflict with Tennis Australia over the funding of Tomic’s sister Sara.
“I don’t feel like while his father is around and in the picture and involved in his tennis so heavily he’s going to have a chance to fulfil his potential.” Said Hewitt.
Tomic continues to remain defiant, calling Hewitt’s comments ‘dissapointing.’ Despite the frosty atmosphere between the two, they have since talked during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
A spokesman for Tennis Australia has insisted that the absence of the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist is due to his current form and fitness. This season the 24-year-old has only managed to win just two matches on the tour. Since January’s Australian Open, he has suffered five consecutive first-round defeats before withdrawing from the Miami Open due to a back injury.
Australia’s upcoming Davis Cup tie will be headlined by Nick Kyrgios. He will be joined in the team by Jordan Thompson, Sam Groth and John Peers. Australia will play America at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Brisbane.
“All the boys are really excited about the Davis Cup quarter-final, it should be a great tie against a very strong American side,” Hewitt said.
“Nick’s obviously our No. 1 player and we’ll be relying on him heavily to get us through the tie. He’s beaten a lot of quality players since our first-round tie against the Czech Republic and I feel the court in Brisbane is really going to suit him.
“He couldn’t be in better form and I really feel that he’s in the right frame to go out there and get the job done.”
America, who currently has four players ranked in the world’s top-30, will announce their squad later on Tuesday.
