Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt makes bombshell decision on Nick Kyrgios’s tennis comeback just after bad boy hit his son Cruz with ugly attack

Nick Kyrgios is set to make a sensational return to Australia’s Davis Cup team for the first time in more than five years.

The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who has taken the first tentative steps on the comeback road after long-term injuries, is a shock selection by captain Lleyton Hewitt for Sweden’s qualifier in Stockholm on January 31 and February 1.

In the team nominations unveiled on Monday, the 29-year-old’s name in the Australian four-man outfit raised eyebrows as he has shown no interest in the men’s ‘World Cup of Tennis’ since last playing against Belgium in November 2019.

Hewitt’s move also comes after Kyrgios sparked outrage when he appeared to attack tennis great Cruz’s son after posting a photo of himself with Jannik Sinner.

Kyrgios has been an outspoken critic of the way tennis checks doping violations, and the Italian world number 1 avoided a ban last year despite failing two drugs tests.

Kyrgios later said he is good friends with Cruz and that his comments were a joke.

Hewitt (pictured in Melbourne this week ahead of the Australian Open) made the call despite Kyrgios making headlines for what many fans interpreted as an attack on his son Cruz

Cruz Hewitt is pictured training in Melbourne with Jannik Sinner. A photo he posted of himself with the world number 1 left Kyrgios unimpressed

Having shown no inclination to return to the green and gold, Kyrgios explained in a 2022 interview that negativity towards him and the feeling of not being embraced by Australia made him prefer to move on to a lucrative exhibition event in Saudi Arabia instead of representing his team. country.

But Kyrgios, who made 11 appearances between 2013 and 2019, is clearly back in the fold, alongside regulars Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis, stalwarts who helped Australia reach the cup finals in 2022 and 2023, as well as lastly. November semi-final in Malaga.

With five nominations allowed, there is still time for Hewitt to add a new name to his team and much will undoubtedly depend on how the players emerge from the rigors of the Australian Open.

Kyrgios said after his first singles match in 18 months in Brisbane last week that he was still unsure if he would be fit enough to compete at the Melbourne Slam as his wrist, which would have required reconstructive surgery in 2023, throbbed had stayed on while trying to deal with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s huge serve.

It had been an encouraging performance from Kyrgios when he was eliminated after three tiebreaks, but he admitted afterwards: “I think I almost need a miracle, and I need the stars to align so that my wrist can can hold on in a big match. be sure to hit.”

Hewitt’s decision to pick the tennis bad boy (pictured with partner Costeen Hatzi) will test his comeback from knee and wrist injuries as the Davis Cup follows hot on the heels of the Australian Open

However, as a former Australian Open winner, Kyrgios could still be a big asset for Hewitt in doubles. Last week in Brisbane he sharpened himself by turning his unlikely ‘bromance’ with his 2022 Wimbledon final conqueror, Novak Djokovic, into an entertaining doubles match in Brisbane.

While Hewitt’s son Cruz, currently in action during Australian Open qualifying, hopes to follow in the footsteps of a famous father, so too will Leo Borg, son of the great Bjorn Borg, who is part of the Swedish team.

The Australians start the match at the Royal Tennis Hall in the Swedish capital as overwhelming favorites, led by world number 8 Minaur and number 27 Thompson, who is also the number 3 doubles player.

In contrast, Swedish No. 1 Elias Ymer is ranked just 327th, while 21-year-old Borg will be their No. 2 singles player at No. 543 in the world. Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi form their doubles duo.