SYDNEY: Nick Kyrgios’s late withdrawal from the inaugural edition of the United Cup took his own team mates by surprise on Wednesday as they were left in the dark until minutes before their pre-tournament news conference.

Kyrgios, who is ranked 22nd in the world and reached this year’s Wimbledon final, was set to lead Australia in the joint ATP and WTA event, which is being held in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and offers ranking points and $15 million in prize-money.

Organisers said the 27-year-old, who was due to face Britain’s Cameron Norrie in his first singles match on Thursday in Group ‘D’, withdrew due to injury.

“We literally just found out 10 minutes ago. Obviously it’s news to all of us and we just move forward now,” co-captain Sam Stosur told reporters.

Kyrgios, who opted out of Australia’s Davis Cup team this year, later posted a video on Instagram where he was seen out in the sunshine at a harbour with the caption ‘Beautiful day’.

Alex de Minaur, who will now move into the number one men’s position for Team Australia, wanted to avoid discussing Kyrgios and focus on the upcoming event.

“I think it would be great if we just talk about this great team,” he said. “We are all here, we are all happy to be here, we are about to play an exciting new event, something new for all of us — the United Cup.” Australia will also play Rafa Nadal’s Spain in Group ‘D’.

Speaking before Kyrgios pulled out of the United Cup, Nadal said the Australian could easily go all the way.

“I know he doesn’t like a lot to play Roland Garros, that’s the only tournament that looks like he doesn’t like to play that much,” said Nadal in Sydney.

“The rest of the tournaments, he played final in Wimbledon, in New York he was close with the quarter-finals I think, with a very positive chance.“He can win in any tournament that he’s playing. He has all the talent, the weapons to win against any player. Of course he can.”

The tournament, which runs from Dec 29-Jan 8, features 18 countries split into six groups of three, with teams playing two men’s and two women’s singles matches and a mixed doubles match.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2022