Nick Kyrgios and partner
Thanasi Kokkinakis were expected to be selected for the Australian
Davis Cup team after their victory at the
Australian Open, but only the latter was chosen and Kokkinakis has attempted to explain why.
The Aussies are set to take on Hungary in Sydney during the first weekend of March in the qualifiers. Kokkinakis later cleared up why Kyrgios was not selected, saying it was the former World No.13 who turned the team down.
"He definitely was asked to play,” Kokkinakis told Sky News Australia. “He has a few things on so he wasn’t able to play but he definitely didn’t get snubbed or anything – I saw those headlines and he didn’t get snubbed at all.”
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have since said they will join forces at other events this year, including the US Open and the Laver Cup next January.
Hopefully we can team up again in the future. I think Nick has shown he always loves playing for Australia," added Kokkinakis. "I’m not sure exactly what he has on, but he obviously has something pretty important.
"He’s obviously in our strongest team. He was definitely asked, and I think he and Lleyton have a good relationship, but he just wasn’t available for this time.”
Kyrgios was set to play in this week’s Dallas ATP 250 and the Delray Beach event next week but has withdrawn from both.