Davis Cup: Team USA look to exploit emotional Nick Kyrgios in quarter-final

Team USA, led by captain Jim Courier, will try to exploit Nick Kyrgios' stamina and patience when they lock horns with Team Australia in the Davis Cup quarter-final starting Friday in Brisbane. Kyrgios has developed the reputation of a player who crumbles under pressure during a best-of-five set format.

At the 2017 Australian Open, Kyrgios was up two sets to nil against Andreas Seppi in the second round and seemed destined to make a deep run in his home Grand Slam. But then, Kyrgios let his emotions get the better of him as Seppi rallied back to win the five-set contest. It was tragic for both Kyrgios and his home fans.

Courier is aware of Kyrgios' tendency to get frustrated on the court, but would try not to get under the Aussie's skin. “That’s for Lleyton (Hewitt) and Nick to worry about. Our job is to do what’s on our side of the net,’’ the U.S. captain said on Monday. The American team would be represented by World No. 15 Jack Sock, World No. 23 John Isner, World No. 25 Sam Querrey and World No. 29 Steve Johnson.

Davis Cup: Nick Kyrgios carries Australian hopes against Team USA

While Team USA has four players inside the top-30, Kyrgios, the World No. 16, is the only top-ranked player representing Team Australia after Bernard Tomic was left out due to injury/disciplinary reasons. Seeing as World No. 78 Jordan Thompson is Australia's next best option, Kyrgios would be under immense pressure to carry the fate of his country on his shoulders.

Unlike Kyrgios, Courier, who formed a Davis Cup super team in the early 1990s with Pet Sampras and Andre Agassi, knows a thing a two about playing with superstar teammates. "I can't speak for Nick, but I can tell you I got great comfort when I was playing alongside Andre (Agassi) or Todd Martin or Pete Sampras. I did feel there was some other cavalry and I'm not saying that Jordan isn't cavalry because he is, but he doesn't have the pedigree or ranking of Bernie (Tomic)," the American coach said, via The Sydney Morning Herald.

Kyrgios, who pushed Roger Federer to a five-setter during last week's Miami Open semi-final, had his first practice at the Queensland Tennis Centre Monday after a long-haul flight back from the U.S. According to The Courier Mail, Kyrgios received treatment to his right forearm and right knee before watching teammates Jordan Thompson, Sam Groth and John Peers slug it out with skipper Lleyton Hewitt.