“It’s more just the communication. If it was just worrying Nick,that’s one thing. When it revolves around the team and other people and their preparation to be playing the best they possibly can leading into the Australian Open,that’s probably the hardest thing.

“I’m so proud of this bloke[de Minaur] and the effort and how he makes playing for his country a priority. It’s something. I’m very proud of him. I think,for the whole team,it was pretty tough not knowing what was going on the last 24 hours.”

Hewitt wasrecently critical of Kyrgios rejecting Australia’s invitation to play in the Davis Cup final against Canada.

Earlier on Friday,Kyrgios was spotted at Sydney Olympic Park on the practice courts,before posting a photo on Instagram with his friends after what appeared to be a game of basketball.

USA and Italy secure victories

An injury retirement gave the US an unassailable 3-1 lead over the Czech Republic on day two of the United Cup.

Italy also took a 3-1 lead over Brazil on Friday in the best-of-five-match format when Lucia Bronzetti blew Laura Pigossi off the court with a 6-0,6-2 win at Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.

World No.19 Frances Tiafoe took the first set 6-3 against Czech player Tomas Machac in Sydney. Machac was leading 4-2 in the second set when he rolled his ankle and was forced to retire. Tiafoe said his opponent had been playing extremely well when he went down.

“We were in the midst of a battle,” Tiafoe said. “It sucks that I got over the line this way. You don’t want to see that. Hopefully,he can get right for the Australian Open.”

The Czech Republic earlier stayed in the tie courtesy of Petra Kvitova’s 7-6 (8-6),6-4 win over world No.3 Jessica Pegula. The US had a 2-0 lead after the first day’s play. The first set went for a marathon 76 minutes,and 13 per cent of the points played were set points.

In a close contest,it was no surprise that the opening set went to a tie-breaker. Pegula was in control at 5-1,but Kvitova fought back brilliantly to take the set. The world No.16 then broke Pegula early in the second set and did not take her foot off the throat.

Meanwhile,the power game of Italy’s Matteo Berrettini proved decisive in his 6-4,7-6 (9-7) win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. The win gave Italy a 2-1 lead in their tie after both countries won matches on day one.

The Italian world No.16 raced through his service games and broke his opponent to take the first set courtesy of awesome forehand hitting. Monteiro was tenacious and took the second set to a tie-breaker,which Berrettini won after saving two set points.

Bronzetti then put the tie out of reach for Brazil after her clash with Pigossi.

In Perth,world No.6 Maria Sakkari started her summer in style,cruising past injury-hit Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova in straight sets. Sakkari’s 6-3,6-2 victory gave Greece an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie after world No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Despina Papamichail posted tough three-set singles wins a day earlier.

with AAP