Nick Kyrgios has been replaced by Aleksandar Vukic in Australia’s Davis Cup squad after suffering an abdominal strain ahead of the Australian Open. After a five-year absence from the competition, Kyrgios had been a surprise inclusion by captain Lleyton Hewitt for the first-round tie against Sweden, starting later on Friday.
Hewitt expressed his disappointment, saying, “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.” Kyrgios, plagued by injuries in recent years, was knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open by unseeded Briton Jacob Fearnley. It was his first Grand Slam appearance since the 2022 U.S. Open, following knee, foot, and wrist injuries that sidelined him for the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Hewitt acknowledged that Kyrgios’ lack of match fitness contributed to his early exit: “It’s not surprising he’s got an injury trying to play five-set tennis straight away without many matches.”
World No. 66 Vukic will step in for Kyrgios and team up with Alex de Minaur in Australia’s singles ties. The Australian team, which reached the semifinals in 2024 and was runner-up in 2022 and 2023, will be looking to continue their strong Davis Cup form.
