13 September,2016 08:10 AM IST | | AFP
Australia Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt said Monday Nick Kyrgios had a good chance of playing in this week's World Group playoff and backed his young star after a slew of on-court controversies
Nick Kyrgios
Sydney: Australia Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt said Monday Nick Kyrgios had a good chance of playing in this week's World Group playoff and backed his young star after a slew of on-court controversies.
Australia's No 1, who on Monday rose to a career-high 15th, in the world, was forced to quit his third round US Open match against Ukraine's Illya Marchenko eight days ago with a hip injury. But Hewitt said the early signs were "very encouraging" that he could feature in the tie against Slovakia beginning in Sydney on Friday.
"It was a good hit-out from Nick yesterday. It's going to be management over the next three to four days with him," Hewitt told reporters.
Hewitt added that he would probably make a decision late on Wednesday whether Kyrgios would play the tie.
"Hopefully the hip pulls up well, but we've just got to take it day by day and (weigh) up how much grass-court practice he needs as well to be able to go out there and play as close to 100 per cent as possible come Friday," said Hewitt.
