Why is Nick Kyrgios not playing in the Davis Cup for Australia?

As Australia look to progress at the Davis Cup Finals in Germany, they are doing so without their highest-ranked player Nick Kyrgios. 

The 27-year-old recently made the US Open quarter-finals and has enjoyed one of his best years on tour having also made the Wimbledon final. 

But Kyrgios has opted against playing for Australia at the Davis Cup in 2022. 

MORE: How to watch the Davis Cup in Australia | Which players are competing in the Davis Cup Final?

Why is Kyrgios not playing Davis Cup for Australia? 

This time around, Kyrgios' absence has been put down to the Aussie being 'unavailable'. 

After a few months abroad, Kyrgios was keen to return home after the 2022 US Open with his mum recently falling ill. 

As such, he decided against returning to the Davis Cup fold in September.

“It would have been great to have Nick in the team but unfortunately he was unavailable for this tie," Australia's team captain Lleyton Hewitt said in August. 

Hewitt has been pushing for Kyrgios to play Davis Cup for Australia again and knows they'd be a stronger force with the 27-year-old. 

"We'd absolutely love to have him playing for us," Hewitt said in July. 

"We're a much stronger side if he's available and can play for us, and he's an option for singles and doubles matches, which is important in this format."

Fast forward to the present day ⚡️

Would @NickKyrgios' firepower earn a spot in your ultimate Australia #DavisCup squad? pic.twitter.com/D23FjPYdVz

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 10, 2020

Why did Kyrgios stop playing Davis Cup?

Kyrgios hasn't played in the Davis Cup since 2019 when he helped Australia reach the quarter-finals. 

After a difficult 18 months on the court, he was asked to return for Australia earlier this year for a playoff against Hungary after winning the Australian Open men's doubles with Thanasi Kokkinakis.

It was reported at the time that he was snubbed by Hewitt, but Kokkinakis subsequently revealed the real reason for his absence. 

“He definitely was asked to play,” Kokkinakis told Sky News.

“He has a few things on so he wasn’t able to play but he definitely didn’t get snubbed or anything.

"I saw those headlines and he didn’t get snubbed at all. Hopefully we can team up again in the future.

“I think Nick has shown he always loves playing for Australia. I’m not sure exactly what he has on, but he obviously has something pretty important.

“He’s obviously in our strongest team. He was definitely asked, and I think he and Lleyton have a good relationship, but he just wasn’t available for this time.”

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There had been reports of a poor relationship between Hewitt and Kyrgios prior to 2019 after the latter wasn't selected on Davis Cup teams for nearly a year. 

But after recalling Kyrgios in 2019, Hewitt stressed they had put any bad blood behind them.

"We sat down at Indian Wells and went through things and he has been so willing to do whatever it takes to get back into the Davis Cup team and play for Australia," Hewitt said at the time. 

"Nick's a different character and I understand that and we're not always going to put everybody in the same box.

"You've got to deal with different personalities in all kind of sports, and I feel like I know Nick as well as anyone.

"I feel like on the Davis Cup court he's done everything I've need in the past whenever he's been a part of the team." 

MORE: What's next for Kyrgios after US Open exit?

Nick Kyrgios' Davis Cup record and results

Kyrgios made his Davis Cup for Australia as an 18-year-old in 2013.

His first match in the competition came in doubles alongside Chris Guccione with the duo losing in five sets against Poland. 

To date, Kyrgios has played 17 matches for Australia in Davis Cup and claimed 11 wins.