Bernard Tomic, Davis Cup
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - early 19/1/17 Australia's Bernard Tomic celebrates winning his Men's singles second round match against Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic. Reuters / Jason Reed

Lleyton Hewitt, the captain of Australia's Davis Cup team, has said that Bernard Tomic won't be considered for the tournament unless he can get into the "right head space." The Australians will square off against the Americans in the World Group Quarterfinal between Apr. 7 and 9.

Tomic has suffered four consecutive first-round losses since the 2017 Australian Open while dealing with a recurring back injury. Earlier this month, Tomic drew the ire of former players for withdrawing from the Mexico Open in Acapulco due to the “unbearable” weather conditions. Last year, Tomic led the ATP Tour with a whopping four in-match retirements. He also holds the record for the quickest loss in an ATP tour event (losing in just 28 minutes against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in 2014).

When asked if he would consider Tomic for future Davis Cup selection, Hewitt said: "Possibly. But he's going to have to be playing a lot better than he is at the moment. I just don't think he is in the right head space anyway to go out and play for his country at the moment." Incidentally, Tomic holds a 17-4 win-loss at the Davis Cup since bursting into the sport as a 17-year-old in 2010.

Davis Cup: Lleyton Hewitt to captain team against USA

Tomic, who has stumbled to World No. 44 in the latest ATP rankings, cited scheduling issues and pulled out of Australia's first round victory Czech Republic in February. "At the start of the year he wasn't that keen to play Davis Cup throughout this year. I haven't had a lot to do with Bernie since the Slovakia tie in Sydney in September. That has probably been the most disappointing thing. Because up until then he had a pretty good year, he did well on grass -- now for him it is going to be hard get going again," Hewitt was quoted as saying by Channel 9 News.

Meanwhile, Hewitt has no problems with Nick Kyrgios arriving as late as next Tuesday to join Australia's Davis Cup team. On Thursday, Kyrgios advanced to the semi-finals of the Miami Open. "It's great news. Winning form is good form. His serve is so important. If he is serving well on the practice court then the rest comes together quite nicely. But I know that he can't wait to come here and join up with the boys again."

Australia's Davis Cup team will feature Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, Sam Groth, John Peers and captain Lleyton Hewitt. They will host the Americans at the hard courts of Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane.