KYRGIOS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

Australia’s newly appointed ATP Cup captain, Lleyton Hewitt, admits to concern over Nick Kyrgios’s recurring collarbone injury but is confident the X-factor will fire in next month’s inaugural competition.

Hewitt (pictured) has been unveiled as Australian skipper for the inaugural, 24-team ATP Cup, which will be held in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from January 3-12.

The former world No.1, who also holds Australia’s Davis Cup reins, is set to guide a lineup boasting world No.18 Alex de Minaur and Kyrgios in Group F in Brisbane against Germany, Greece and Canada.

Hewitt said he was worried about Kyrgios’s collarbone complaint, which flared again at last month’s Davis Cup, forcing him to miss their quarter-final against Canada.

Kyrgios was also forced to pull out of the Laver Cup just two months earlier, sidelining him until Davis Cup duty.

But Hewitt is backing Kyrgios, the world No.30, to be at his best when Australia hosts the ATP Cup for the first time.

“It (the collarbone injury) has happened a couple of times now so it is a little bit of a concern leading into an Australian summer,” Hewitt said.

“The shoulder and collarbone area are obviously such a big part of his game, to be able to serve at the power that he does is a real weapon for him.

“He just has to do all the right things now. He is doing rehab and recovery and he is back on the courts now.

“I am still really confident that he can go out and back Alex de Minaur up.

“He has been in a really good headspace.”