Court date won’t affect Tomic’s Cup hopes

Davis Cup captain Wally Masur is leaving Bernard Tomic hanging as he ponders his options for Australia’s looming semi-final showdown with Great Britain.

Tomic is available for selection again after serving a one-tie ban for his attack on Tennis Australia bosses Steve Healey and Craig Tiley at Wimbledon.

Tomic, who has carved out an impressive 14-2 singles record in the competition, says he is desperate to play in the indoor hardcourt tie in Glasgow from September 18-20 and Masur could certainly do with the Australian No.1 back in his ranks.

The trouble is, five doesn’t go into four and the skipper must accommodate his first-choice doubles pairing of Sam Groth and veteran leader Lleyton Hewitt, who also proved Australia’s last-day singles heroes in a quarter-final Houdini act against Kazakhstan.

Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis are the other contenders but it remains to be seen how Masur will respond after Kyrgios’ meltdown against the Kazakhs and the subsequent turmoil the 20-year-old has been engulfed in over the past month.

“Absolutely I’m ready to play and it’s going to be a huge opportunity playing in the semi-finals to get in the final and we have a big chance,” Tomic said after his 6-4 6-3 6-1 third-round US Open loss to Frenchman Richard Gasquet at Flushing Meadows.

“We need our best players there. If I have the opportunity, I’m always ready to play these ties.

Tomic is facing court charges in Miami on the day after the semi-final for allegedly resisting a police officer without violence and trespassing while partying in a $US7000-a-night penthouse during the July weekend of Australia’s win over Kazakhstan.

But the world No.24 told AAP he wasn’t required to be at the court hearing and that any legal concerns hanging over his head would not impact on availability to take on Andy Murray’s Brits.

Hoping for a warning or probation from the US courts, Tomic vowed to give it his all for Australia if picked.

“Obviously the situation with Wimbledon, I didn’t get the chance to play and it was a bit complicated and then I went to Miami and then obviously had the situation where I got arrested,” he said.

“But after that I won my third title (in Bogota), so I remember that was a good and bad moment for me.

“But I’m very, very positive to play Davis Cup. It’s the biggest thing for me and that’s what I got out of Lleyton, of cherishing Davis Cup the most.

“And for me when I step on that court for Davis Cup, it’s different than any other tournament or any other match.

“I play my best tennis at Davis Cup so I’m ready.”

Masur, though, has all his charges on tenterhooks after of his team announcement on Tuesday.

Tomic is making no secret that he’s had discussions with Masur in New York, but says he remains in the dark.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said.

“And no one knows yet. That’s the interesting thing.

“We will see, I think, in the next 24, 48 hours for sure.

“But for sure I have to have a few more meetings with a few more people yet.

“I’m not the boss in this so I can’t speak yet, but there’s some interesting things for sure that will come out in the next day or two.”

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