MELBOURNE — Retired two-times grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has poured cold water on local fans' hopes he might return to the court for Australia's Davis Cup opener against the United States after Nick Kyrgios was ruled out of the tie.
The 35-year-old team captain called time on his career at the Australian Open six weeks ago but made himself available for Davis Cup duty on Thursday after Kyrgios was withdrawn due to a virus.
However, Hewitt said there was "zero" chance he would play at Melbourne's Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club with Sam Groth named to play both the opening and reverse singles against John Isner and Jack Sock in place of Kyrgios at the draw ceremony on Thursday.