Kyrgios on skipping Davis Cup to play Diriyah Tennis Cup: "Maybe if Australia embraced me a little bit more, I'd play for it"

Nick Kyrgios didn't play for Australia at the Davis Cup justifying it initially with the Diriyah Tennis Cup and the chance to win major prize money.

While his commitment to tennis has improved quite a bit over the past year he's always maintained that he's mainly motivated by money because he wants to earn as much as possible while still playing. He doesn't plan on playing until he's 35 so these years are crucial for him.

He's expanded on the Davis Cup situation a bit more saying:

“Maybe if Australia embraced me a little bit more, I would play for it and bring home the trophy. At this point of my career, I’ll always do what’s best for me. I can travel around the world playing exhibitions around this time of year for six figures. I feel I put myself in that position, so it’s an easy one for me."

He added:

"I’ll easily take time with my family and my girlfriend and enjoy experiences around the world and earn that type of money rather than playing a week away in something where I wouldn’t be able to be with my girlfriend and I’m not getting paid that well. That doesn’t really make sense to me and my progression as an athlete.”

He did add that he might have played if it was in Australia as he wasn't keen on staying another week in Europe:

"Maybe, who knows? Adding another week in Europe in Malaga wasn’t really what was on my wish list. If it was in Australia, maybe it would have been a different story. It’s not always easy for me to erase everything in Australia that’s said negatively about me or my family. So it’s interesting that they really want me to play, but are always criticizing."