Lleyton Hewitt says Nick Kyrgios can ‘absolutely’ play Davis Cup in the future

Lleyton Hewitt took a sledgehammer to Bernard Tomic but he wasn’t the only Aussie young gun to get a whack. Hewitt also weighed in on Nick Kyrgios and his eyebrow raising social media posts.

Nick Kyrgios lost in the opening round of the Australian Open. Picture: AFP Photo

The door remains “absolutely” open for Nick Kyrgios to play Davis Cup, according to Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt who said he had counselled the young star about his social media use.

Kyrgios teed off on Wednesday night, abusing AFL great Gerard Healy and Australian tennis coach Roger Rasheed.

He also posted and later deleted an Instagram story appearing to mock Hewitt.

“Who’s match is he watching,” he wrote with poll options of “Demon” and “No one else”.

Hewitt said Kyrgios had to be held accountable.

“That’s one of the standards, absolutely,” he said.

“That we can’t put up with. Just for our culture of Australian tennis moving forward.

“Can’t do it. I don’t think it’s a good look.

“I’ve spoken to Nick about it and he understands that. Whether he learns from it, that’s another thing.”

Nick Kyrgios will be considered for Davis Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Hewitt – who said Bernard Tomic had burned his chances of ever playing Davis Cup again with “blackmail” and “threats” over the last year – was optimistic that Kyrgios was not a lost cause for Davis Cup.

“Absolutely (the door is open),” he said.

“100 per cent. I’ve spoken to Nick, and we continue to speak.

“Nick and I have had a great relationship, but I think there’s still … standards have to be set, and the role that I’m in now, you have to have standards.

“We see it in all different sports as well and all I want guys to do is commit to the sport and work hard and want to play for Australia. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Originally published as Lleyton Hewitt says Nick Kyrgios can ‘absolutely’ play Davis Cup in the future