Hewitt says the Kyrgios withdrawal threw team
LLEYTON Hewitt insists he had no choice but to play John Millman in the Davis Cup quarter-final defeat by Canada following Nick Kyrgios’s late scratching.
Hopes of a first success since 2003 were dashed in Madrid after Kyrgios failed a late fitness test.
It forced Millman, who had been a spectator for the whole tournament, to take on Vasik Pospisil who won the opening singles rubber 7-6 (9-7), 6-4.
Alex de Minaur fought back to beat Denis Shapovalov 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, but the Canadian duo backed up from their singles matches to beat John Peers and Jordan Thompson in straight sets in the doubles.
Kyrgios had been in top form in Australia’s opening two ties against Colombia and Belgium, winning his singles rubbers in fine style, sending down 38 aces in four sets of tennis in the process.
The combustible Canberran had also kept his cool throughout both matches and earlier in the week was labelled the ultimate team man by Hewitt after being invited back following an 18-month hiatus.