Kyrgios
Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates after winning a point against Andy Murray of Britain during their first round match at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, September 1, 2015. Reuters/Adrees Latif

Tennis “bad boy” Nick Kyrgios has been dropped from Australia’s Davis Cup team against Britain in Glasgow next week. Captain Wally Masur said Kyrgios was left out of the semifinal showdown to focus on his “personal and professional” development.

Kyrgios, No. 37 in world rankings, will not join Australia in its Davis Cup bid after making headlines with his uncanny behaviour on the tennis court. Masur said in a statement that Kyrgios and his team had a “good healthy discussion” and have agreed on a plan to help the 20-year-old Aussie develop all aspects of his game to ensure a long and successful tennis career.

"So far he has demonstrated a will to change and backed that up with his actions,” Masur said, reports Eurosport. “But it is a long road and he is now very acutely aware of the consequences of any future transgressions.”

Kyrgios was accused of not trying during a match at Wimbledon this year and was handed a 28-day suspended ban by the ATP after making lewd suggestions about the girlfriend of Swiss opponent Stanislas Wawrinka during a match in Montreal last month.

Kyrgios also acted out in his first-round loss against Andy Murray at Flushing Meadows, which earned him criticism from tennis legend John McEnroe and cricket great Shane Warne.

He will be replaced by Bernard Tomic, who has had a troubled relationship with Tennis Australia. The team will also feature Lleyton Hewitt, Sam Groth, and teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Davis Cup team will be spearheaded by world No. 3 Andy Murray, who recently lost against Kevin Anderson at the US Open. Despite Murray’s fourth-round exit from the tournament, captain Leon Smith is convinced the 28-year-old British will help his side once they battle the Australians at Emirates Arena.

“The way Andy’s schedule looks for the rest of the year he is putting Davis Cup high on the agenda,” Smith told The Guardian. “I think he’ll find a way to bring the necessary energy.”

Smith revealed that he had settled on his team selection even before Masur picked his lineup, but the Scottish coach admitted Britain’s team could still change. Smith also included James Ward and Kyle Edmund in Britain’s Davis Cup lineup.

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