Nick Kyrgios fell short in his competitive return, hurting his case for an Australian Open wildcard, but Alex de Minaur downed a young gun to keep Australia in the United Cup on a big Tuesday of tennis.
De Minaur’s 6-4 6-1 win over world No.16 Jakub Mensik forced a decisive mixed doubles tie in Australia’s group stage clash with Czechia.
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The Aussies were set to call on Storm Hunter and John Patrick-Smith to face Mensik and Barbora Krejcikova, who beat top local woman Maya Joint 6-4 6-1 earlier this evening.
But de Minaur put his hand up to partner Hunter, the former women’s world No.1 doubles player, backing up immediately from the singles.
De Minaur’s win over Mensik will boost his chances of claiming a top-five ranking heading into the Australian Open.
No Aussie man has ranked that high since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006. He currently ranks a career-high sixth.
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The $17 million United Cup tournament is worth a maximum of 500 ranking points, with de Minaur only able to earn more points if Australia wins the mixed doubles and secures a quarter-final berth.
The Aussies would likely face Poland on January 9 in the quarter-finals.
Earlier the 30-year-old Kyrgios was seen grabbing at his elbow and looked sore during a 6-3 6-4 loss to American world No.60 Aleksandar Kovacevic at the Brisbane International.
While Kyrgios won his controversial Battle of the Sexes match against women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, his lack of match fitness was apparent, and the world No.671 came into the Aussie swing hoping to prove he can compete at grand slam level.
Instead while he looked competitive for periods against Kovacevic, mostly on serve, the Canberran was comfortably beaten in the end.
The 30-year-old will also play the Kooyong Classic next week before the grand slam begins on January 18.
He may still play doubles with great mate Thanasi Kokkinakis but he did not show the type of form and fitness that would demand a wildcard into the Australian Open main draw.
Kyrgios said last weekend he would even be willing to play Australian Open qualifying, though this appears extremely unlikely.
“I could have a phone call (with Tennis Australia) and be like, ‘I feel 100 per cent; I’m going to make a final of a grand slam, that no other (male) player in Australia has done in the last 19 years’,” he said.
“I could just butter it up and take it, but I want to prove to myself first.
“And I don’t want to be that type of player that takes opportunities away from young people that have been really working towards this moment.”
Sabalenka teases Kyrgios rematch | 00:47
Three discretionary wildcards are yet to be awarded for the men’s singles tournament.
Former champion Stan Wawrinka is hoping to receive one of them while the other two are expected to go to Australian players.
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