Kyrgios looms as Davis Cup doubles option

Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson stun No.2 seeds in Roland Garros opening round.

Paris, France, 1 June 2017 | Darren Walton, AAP

Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson have given Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt another priceless option with a bumper doubles win at the French Open in Paris.

Hewitt watched on intently as Kyrgios and Thompson silenced home fans with a 7-6(8) 4-6 6-3 dismissal of French second seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut on Wednesday.

Teaming for the first time, Kyrgios and Thompson connected beautifully in a Davis Cup-like atmosphere on packed a Court 3 at Roland Garros in what bodes well ahead of Australia’s semifinal on clay in Belgium later this year.

Despite his side seeing off the Czech Republic and USA comfortably in the first two rounds, Hewitt is undoubtedly trialling new combinations as he weighs up a way to possibly recall Thanasi Kokkinakis to the team fold.

Kokkinakis sat beside Hewitt as Kyrgios and Thompson showcased their credentials as a potential pairing in September.

Such a scenario would give Hewitt three strong singles options, rather than having to rely solely on Kyrgios and Thompson and then Sam Groth and John Peers as the doubles pairing.

In any case, Kyrgios is fast firming as a serious doubles choice, if his body holds up.

The singles spearhead has increased his doubles schedule in 2017. The French Open is his sixth event of the season.

He has made the semifinals in three of them and admits to being “super excited” about Australia’s prospects of winning the Davis Cup this year for the first time since 2003 – with whoever Hewitt chooses.

“The Davis Cup the last three ties has been some of the best experiences I have had this year,” Kyrgios said.

“I’ve really looked forward to that. That’s kind of kept me going. When we have a Davis Cup tie and then we play a couple weeks after, I’ve just put in to create good habits to play in Davis Cup.

“And it’s going to be awesome in Brussels, I think. I’m excited to be a part of that team with Lleyton, Jordan. Hopefully, obviously with Thanasi coming back, it would be awesome to have him back as well.

“And obviously you have Peers and Groth playing great doubles. We will have the depth back as well.

“The culture, it’s just fun, just a fun week. I think we can win it this year for sure.”

Groth also scored a round one doubles win in Paris, teaming with Swedish partner Robert Lindstedt to defeat American Brian Baker and Croatian Nicola Mektic 6-3 3-6 7-6(3).

However Peers’ French Open campaign is over. After a shock first round exit in the doubles alongside Finland’s Henri Kontinen on Tuesday, Peers has also been eliminated in the opening round of mixed doubles.

Peers and Chinese Taipai partner Yung-Jan Chan, the top seeds, lost to reigning Australian Open champions Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabal 6-4 6-2.