NICK KYRGIOS IS ABSENT FROM AUSTRALIA VS. USA PRE-DRAW DAVIS CUP PRESS CONFERENCE, TENNIS PLAYER HAS THE FLU?

Written by: Staff on 1st March 2016

NICK KYRGIOS IS ABSENT FROM AUSTRALIA VS. USA PRE-DRAW DAVIS CUP PRESS CONFERENCE, TENNIS PLAYER HAS THE FLU?

epa05112786 Nick Kyrgios of Australia gestures during his second round match against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2016. EPA/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

By Ricky Dimon

Australia and the United States held their pre-draw press conferences on Tuesday ahead of this week’s opening-round Davis Cup tie on the grass of Kooyong. Nick Kyrgios was not in attendance for the host nation, while Team USA’s full slate of players took the podium. That lineup includes John Isner, Jack Sock, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, and captain Jim Courier.

Kyrgios is coming off a physically demanding end of February in which he won his first career ATP title in Marseille and advanced to the Dubai semifinals. The 20-year-old retired with a back problem against Stan Wawrinka last week after struggling with the injury in a quarterfinal victory over Tomas Berdych. Now, though, the issue appears to be illness.

“Nick has a virus,” Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt noted. “At the moment, he is taking it easy and trying to get over that 100 percent 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 [Bernard 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.

“I am lucky with both of these guys. Both of their games suit grass with big serves and good returns. 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, just like any grass-court five-set match, but I am glad our boys have won quite a few matches in the last month.”

Hewitt had previously dubbed his team “underdogs” in this tie, even though the official odds will likely have Australia as a heavy favorite–unless Kyrgios cannot play.

“It doesn’t matter one bit,” Courier said of Hewitt’s quip. “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…. We have to go to battle and play.”

Friendliness will be put aside, too, for this weekend’s contest. Sock has well-documented friendships with both of Australia’s singles players.

“We are good friends,” Sock said of Tomic, whom the American is scheduled to meet on Friday, either in the first or second rubber. “We have spent some time together in our careers. However, in any setting on the court, we go out there and you put that aside and compete. Afterwards, you are still pretty good friends, but when it is on the court that doesn’t really enter your mind.

“Similar to Bernie, I am friends with Nick–but when you step on the court, it is about the tennis and playing each other…. When you are out there playing, that is the only thing that matters—especially this weekend when you are representing your country. It gives me all the more reason to go out there and compete as hard as I can.”

Isner, Team USA’s No. 1, will go up against Kyrgios, Australia’s No. 2, on the first day (again, if Kyrgios is healthy).

“I am preparing for the team that has been submitted,” Isner assured. “It can change come Thursday, but as of right now I am prepared for all of them…. Every point is huge. I have been playing Davis Cup for quite a bit, but not nearly as long as the Bryans. Jack is a bit newer at this. There is certainly pressure on every player that is competing this weekend and we know that. I don’t think there is any extra pressure on me by any means.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Australian Tennis, Bernard Tomic, Bob Bryan, Davis Cup, jack sock, Jim Courier, John Isner, Kooyong, Lleyton Hewitt, Mike Bryan, Nick Kyrgios, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis News, United States

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takezohdiary says:

March 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm

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tennisit1 says:

March 1, 2016 at 1:01 pm

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ElenaFoundation says:

March 2, 2016 at 1:18 am

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