Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt says Bernard Tomic won't be considered for Davis Cup tennis again until he is in the "right head space".
Tomic was left out of next week's quarter-final against the United States in Brisbane after four straight first-round losses since the Australian Open while nursing a back injury.
Asked if he would consider Tomic - who has plummeted to world No.44 - in future, Hewitt said: "Possibly.
"But he's going to have to be playing a lot better than he is at the moment.
"I just don't think he is in the right head space anyway to go out and play for his country at the moment."
Tomic boasts an impressive 17-4 win-loss Davis Cup record since debuting as a 17-year-old in 2010.
But Hewitt admitted Tomic had made it clear from the outset he would not be keen to play Davis Cup in 2017.
For the record the Australian captain said it was a combination of "unavailability, fitness and lack of form" that ensured Tomic didn't get a nod against the Americans.
Still, Hewitt hasn't hidden his disappointment over Tomic's unavailability in the past.
He didn't play Australia's first round win over Czech Republic at Kooyong in February, citing scheduling issues.
"At the start of the year he wasn't that keen to play Davis Cup throughout this year," Hewitt said.
"I haven't had a lot to do with Bernie since the Slovakia tie in Sydney in September.
"That has probably been the most disappointing thing.
"Because up until then he had a pretty good year, he did well on grass - now for him it is going to be hard get going again."
Hewitt said the solution to Tomic's immediate problems may lie on the practice court.
"He's got some issues with his game," he said.
"He's got to get out there and work a lot harder on those areas if he wants to get back in the winner's circle."
In contrast, Australian No.1 Nick Kyrgios will arrive in Brisbane in top form.
The world No.16 booked a Miami Open semi-final against Roger Federer with a 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 win over German Alexander Zverev on Friday.
Kyrgios' Miami winning streak looks set to ensure a belated arrival for the quarter-final starting on April 7.
But Hewitt had no problem with Kyrgios arriving as late as Tuesday.
"It's great news. Winning form is good form," he said.
"His serve is so important. If he is serving well on the practice court then the rest comes together quite nicely.
"But I know that he can't wait to come here and join up with the boys again."
Hewitt named an unchanged team for the US tie, sticking with world No.79 Jordan Thompson and doubles pair Sam Groth and John Peers.
Share
