United Cup: De Minaur welcomes Kyrgios return to Australian team

Nick Kyrgios has returned to the Aussie fold for the first time since 2020. His good mate Alex de Minaur is pumped to have the fiery star alongside him in the upcoming United Cup.

Alex de Minaur hopes he and Nick Kyrgios can “do Australia proud” as the Aussie top two prepare to team for the first time since 2020 when the newly-minted United Cup begins later this month.

De Minaur has become the posterchild for Australian on-court patriotism and punctuated that point by steering Australia to the final of the Davis Cup last month.

The world No.24 has never shied away from an opportunity to represent his country but the same cannot be said for Kyrgios, who for a multitude of reasons has not played Davis Cup since 2019 and last featured for Australia in the 2020 ATP Cup.

But the 27-year-old is finally back in the Aussie fold and United Cup co-captain Sam Stosur believes a return to the team format will help bring out Kyrgios’ best tennis.

Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios are back together playing for Australia. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

De Minaur’s focus is of course on his own game however he welcomed Kyrgios’ return to the team in what is a massive boost to Australia’s chances of progressing out of a difficult group featuring both Spain and Great Britain.

“We’re in a pretty tough group but it’s going to be great for us to really test ourselves and have tough matches before the Australian Open,” de Minaur said.

“It’s going to be tough but we like being the underdog, so hopefully (Kyrgios and I) can push each other, have each other’s back and come out with some great tennis and do Australia proud.

“For me there’s no greater honour than to represent your country and that’s been my belief always and for me it’s another opportunity to do everything I can to hopefully get a win for Australia.

“It’s by far the best time of the year and I’m just really looking forward to playing back in front of an Aussie crowd, which I’ve thoroughly missed throughout the year.”

Kyrgios and de Minaur famously survived four match points when they partnered for the first and only time in the quarter-finals of the 2020 ATP Cup.

The Aussie duo finally matched up against each other at the Canadian Open in August, which Kyrgios won in straight sets before hailing “hell of a player” de Minaur in a nod to their friendship.

De Minaur congratulates Kyrgios after his win in Canada. Picture: Getty Images

The 2023 season looms as arguably the biggest of their careers, with both men on the cusp of the top-20 having ticked off some major milestones this year.

De Minaur rose 10 places in the world rankings in 2022 and his defeat of Daniil Medvedev at the Paris Masters last month was his first top-five scalp in 19 attempts.

In all November was a massive month for de Minaur and Australia – and he plans to ride the momentum through the United Cup and into the Australian Open.

“I just want to really push myself, I want to get high in the rankings,” he said.

De Minaur is primed for a huge summer of tennis. Picture: Jorge Guerrero/AFP

“Obviously my whole career has been a lot of going step by step, so I think the next step is to really push for the top-15, top-10. That’s what my real goals are and I think I’m very close. I think my level is there, I just need to win a couple more big matches here and there and I think I’ll be able to achieve it.

“I’m not really one of those guys that’s too content with making third and fourth rounds of slams. I want to be in the deep end of these tournaments and playing the best in the world for a title.

“I think I’m very close – my level is there – it’s just a bit of self-belief that needs to happen for me to really cement myself there. I’m going to do everything in my power and hopefully we can start the year off with a good run at the (Australian Open).”

Australia begins its United Cup campaign at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney against Great Britain on December 29-30, followed by Spain on January 2-3.