‘An option down the track’: Door open for Nick Kyrgios to return to the Davis Cup team as Aleksandar Vukic locked in to make his debut

Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has left the door open for Nick Kyrgios to rejoin the squad later in the year after the big-server and world No. 28 Jordan were both ruled out of this weekend’s tie against Sweden.

The abdominal injury that plagued him at the Australian Open earlier this month thwarted Hewitt’s plans to unleash Kyrgios for hit first Davis Cup appearance in more than five years, with Aleksandar Vukic earning his debut on the back of terrific performances at his home grand slam.

Thompson also ruled out of the tie due to foot and lower-leg injuries with doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and John Peers returning for duty alongside spearhead Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis who travelled to Stockholm but may not play.

“Nick won’t be coming here. He’s suffered a couple of injuries through the Australian summer,” Hewitt said.

“I was excited to think of the potential for him to be back in the Davis Cup team, but it wasn’t to be and obviously he’s very underdone with his body, so it’s not surprising he’s got an injury trying to play five-set tennis straight away without many matches.

“Hopefully, fingers crossed, we get through and he may be an option down the track.

“I’m very happy and confident with the squad that I have at my disposal. Very proud of the guys too to be honest because they make it a priority to play for Australia … It’s not an easy time for us.

“We’ve had a lot of pressure and expectation playing in Australia and then straight away hop on a plane and make this a priority.”

The injuries have paved the way for world no.66 Vukic to become Australia’s 116th Davis Cup representative in this weekend’s tie against Sweden after he reached the third round in Melbourne where he lost a heartbreaking fifth set tiebreak.

Vukic was presented his Davis Cup jacket by the legendary Ken Rosewall, with the debutant to partner world no.8 Alex de Minaur who led Australia to the semi-finals in last year’s event.

“Very privileged and especially to be surrounded by legends of the Australian tennis scene. It’s a very, very big honour for me,” he said after flying out with his teammates on Sunday.

“I’ll do my best to do my part to represent the country and represent everyone there the best that I can.

“Lleyton (Hewitt), Rochey (Tony Roche) and Crabby (Jaymon Crabb), they sat me down the day after I lost (at the Australian Open) and told me (that I had been selected for the Davis Cup team), so it kind of softened the blow after losing that match,” he said.

“It was very nice to hear, and I definitely walked out of Melbourne with more of a smile on my face for sure.”