Davis Cup: Does the Laver Cup bring Nick Kyrgios to Hamburg after all?
For the time being, Australia will come to Hamburg for the Davis Cup without Nick Kyrgios . That increases Germany's chances.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Aug 16, 2022, 08:40 am
When announcing the German squad on Monday, Michael Kohlmann remarked, not being entirely serious, that Germany hadn't won the Davis Cup against France for what felt like a hundred years. The German team boss is not far off the mark: the last win against the French was in 1938. 84 years later, the chances of a win are not bad. With Benjamin Bonzi, Adrian Mannarino and Arthur Rinderknech, Sebastian Grosjean has nominated three solid but by no means unbeatable individual players. Provided, of course, that Alexander Zverev and Oscar Otte are back in top form at Rothenbaum in mid-September. As expected, Gael Monfils is missing for the French, the veteran picked up an injury again on his comeback in Montreal.
Also reported missing at the moment: Nick Kyrgios. Australia team boss Lleyton Hewitt has only named four players, but Kyrgios announced in Washington that he has been away from home for a long time and is already counting down the weeks when he comes home. However: Nick Kyrgios is always a valid candidate for the Laver Cup, which takes place in the week after the Davis Cup in London from September 23rd to 25th. Maybe he'll end up in the Hanseatic city before that.
Kyrgios quarrels with Ebden and Purcell
However, the fact that Kyrgios had let loose a few very pointed remarks in the direction of the inferior opponents in the final of the Australian Open also speaks against this. And Lleyton Hewitt called these two men into his team: Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell, who a few Weeks surprisingly won the title at Wimbledon. A lot will probably depend on how far Nick Kyrgios gets at the US Open.
That leaves Belgium with top man David Goffin. Zizou Bergs is a formidable second singles player. And Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen at least a well-rehearsed double. Nevertheless, the German chances have certainly not worsened after the teams were announced. When everyone is on board.