Tennis Australia will keep Lleyton Hewitt's arm around the
shoulder of Nick Kyrgios, helping to nurse the star through the US Open to next
month's Davis Cup semi-final.
Kyrgios was fined $US10,000 ($A13,550) by the ATP for an
obscene sledge of Stan Wawrinka during a second round match at the Rogers Cup
in Montreal.
The 20-year-old has apologised in the face of near-universal
criticism but there will be support and not further sanction from Tennis
Australia.
Davis Cup captain Wally Masur said the unsavoury incident
hadn't changed his plans for the tie against Britain in Glasgow.
"He's part of our plans absolutely," he told Fox
Sports.
"How punitive can you be? At what point do you start to
move forward?
"Nick is paying a very heavy price financially,
obviously the consequences will go beyond this week, for example amongst his
peers on the tour, the ATP player council, they'll have their say."
While Kyrgios' comments have brought him another unwanted
moment in the spotlight, Masur said Hewitt was the perfect person to have in
his corner.
The 34-year-old Davis Cup captain-in-waiting is in Montreal
with the Canberran tyro, combining for an unsuccessful doubles campaign at the
Rogers Cup.
While Masur said Hewitt was unhappy that Kyrgios' slur had
stolen the headlines from good Australian performances, he backed the former
world No.1 to help bring around public opinion.
"He's someone that those guys really look up to... he's
someone that can make a difference," he said.
"We're looking at a young kid, he's got enormous
potential, he's a good kid at heart.
"We're trying to put things in place behind the scenes
that can make a difference and help Nick achieve that potential.
"Nick polarises opinion but there's been a lot of young
prodigies come onto tour that have been exactly the same.
"Look at John McEnroe, he was the superbrat ended up
becoming one of the most loved players in the game.
"Nick is on a journey... this is all part of a learning
curve."
Kyrgios was stood down from the reverse singles in
Australia's quarter-final win over Kazakhstan in Darwin last month.
Masur said he was "spent" after a physically and
emotionally draining Wimbledon campaign.
For all of his support for Kyrgios, Masur said he was most
sorry for the targets of his tongue.
"The big pressure was on the third party, was on the
girl involved in the sledge ... my sympathies lie with her," he said.
"She doesn't want to be dragged into this situation and
that's very unfortunate."
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