Nick Kyrgios is in line to make a sensational return to Australia's Davis Cup team for the first time in more than five years.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist, who's been taking the first tentative steps on the comeback road after long-standing injuries, is a shock selection by captain Lleyton Hewitt for the qualifying tie in Sweden in Stockholm on January 31 and February 1.
In the team nominations unveiled on Monday, the 29-year-old's name in Australia's four-man outfit raised eyebrows as he's shown no interest in the men's 'World Cup of tennis' ever since he last played against Belgium in November 2019.
Having shown no inclination to return in the green-and-gold, he explained in an interview with AAP in 2022 that negativity towards him and the feeling of not being embraced by Australia made him prefer to play in a lucrative exhibition event in Saudi Arabia rather than represent his country.
But Kyrgios, who played 11 ties between 2013 and 2019, is evidently back in the fold, named alongside regulars Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis, stalwarts who've helped Australia reach the Cup final in 2022 and 2023 as well as last November's semi-final in Malaga.
With five nominations allowed, there's still time for Hewitt to add another name to his team and much will doubtless depend on how the players emerge from the rigours of the Australian Open.
Kyrgios said after his first singles in 18 months last week in Brisbane that he still wasn't sure if he'd be fit enough to compete in the Melbourne slam as his wrist, which had needed reconstructive surgery in 2023, had been left throbbing while trying to handle the massive serves of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
It had been an encouraging showing by Kyrgios as he was edged out in three tiebreaks, but he admitted afterwards: "I think I almost need a miracle, and I need, like, the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a grand slam for sure."
Yet Kyrgios could still be a huge asset for Hewitt in the doubles as a former Australian Open winner. Last week in Brisbane, he sharpened up by turning his unlikely 'bromance' with his 2022 Wimbledon final conqueror Novak Djokovic into an entertaining doubles partnership in Brisbane.
While Hewitt's son Cruz, currently in action in Australian Open qualifying, is hoping to follow in a famous father's footsteps, so is Leo Borg, son of the great Bjorn Borg, who features in Sweden's team.
The Australians will start the tie at the Royal Tennis Hall in the Swedish capital as overwhelming favourites, headed by world No.8 de Minaur and No.27 Thompson, who's also the No.3-ranked doubles player.
In contrast, the Swedish No.1 is Elias Ymer, ranked as low as 327, while the 21-year-old Borg will be their No.2 singles player at No.543 in the world. Andre Goransson and Filip Bergevi will be their doubles duo.
