The path is clear for Nick Kyrgios's return to the Davis Cup fold after Thanasi Kokkinakis ruled himself out of Australia's looming first-round tie with the United States in Melbourne.
Kokkinakis on Tuesday conceded he was no hope of being back for the March 4-6 grasscourt fixture at Kooyong as he continues his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.
"I won't be ready for Davis Cup. I had surgery three weeks ago and it's all going well, so I'm on the road to recovery right now," Kokkinakis said at Melbourne Park.
"I'll be ready to go hopefully in mid-April."
After being a frustrated observer at the Australian Open, the world No.86 will apply an injury-protected ranking to guarantee himself main-draw start at the season's last three grand slam events in Paris, London and New York.
Kokkinakis's unavailability at least relieves first-year captain Lleyton Hewitt of a Davis Cup selection headache.
The 19-year-old was a fixture during Australia's run to the semi-finals in 2015, while Kyrgios was rested from the September showdown with Great Britain in Glasgow following an emotionally sapping American hardcourt campaign.
With Kyrgios injured for the first-round win over the Czech Republic and Bernard Tomic missing the quarter-final triumph over Kazakhstan through suspension, former captain Wally Masur never had his full complement of players available last year.
But with Tomic and Kyrgios, the country's top two ranked players, both back on deck, Hewitt will almost surely use them as his singles options against the Americans.
The versatile Sam Groth - playing doubles with Hewitt at the Open - will also be included, leaving John Millman, James Duckworth and potentially doubles ace John Peers battling for the final place in Australia's four-man team.
Share
