Nick Kyrgios' late United Cup withdrawal surprises Australia teammates

Reuters  — 

Nick Kyrgios’ late withdrawal from the inaugural version of the United Cup took his personal teammates unexpectedly on Wednesday as they had been left at nighttime till minutes earlier than their pre-tournament information convention.

Kyrgios, who's ranked twenty second on the earth and reached this yr’s Wimbledon closing, was set to steer Australia within the joint ATP and WTA occasion, which is being held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and provides rating factors and $15 million in prize-money.

Organisers stated the 27-year-old, who was as a result of face Britain’s Cameron Norrie in his first singles match on Thursday in Group D, withdrew as a result of harm.

“We actually simply came upon 10 minutes in the past. Clearly it’s information to all of us and we simply transfer ahead now,” co-captain Sam Stosur informed reporters.

Kyrgios, who opted out of Australia’s Davis Cup group this yr, later posted a video on Instagram the place he was seen out within the sunshine at a harbor with the caption ‘Lovely day’.

Alex de Minaur, who will now transfer into the primary males’s place for Crew Australia, wished to keep away from discussing Kyrgios and concentrate on the upcoming occasion.

“I feel it might be nice if we simply discuss this nice group,” he stated. “We're all right here, we're all blissful to be right here, we're about to play an thrilling new occasion, one thing new for all of us - the United Cup.”

Australia may also play Rafa Nadal’s Spain in Group D.

The event, which runs from Dec. 29-Jan. 8, options 18 international locations cut up into six teams of three, with groups enjoying two males’s and two girls’s singles matches and a blended doubles match.