Bernard Tomic questions absence of Nick Kyrgios from Australia Davis Cup team

Bernard Tomic hit out at compatriot Nick Kyrgios after Australia lost to the United States in their Davis Cup World Group tie in Melbourne.

The Aussies began the final day with a 2-1 deficit and the visitors clinched the tie when big-serving John Isner defeated Tomic 6-4 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-4) in Sunday's first singles rubber at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Australia had to play the tie without world No 27 Kyrgios, meaning the 77th-ranked Sam Groth faced Isner on Friday.

Kyrgios withdrew due to sickness but a frustrated Tomic pointed out that his team-mate also pulled out of a first round tie against the Czech Republic last year, only to then play in the big ATP event in Indian Wells two weeks later.

During his match with Isner, Tomic was overheard during a changeover questioning Kyrgios's absence from the tie.

While in conversation with team captain Lleyton Hewitt, television microphones caught Tomic muttering: "Nick's sitting down in Canberra. ******** he's sick."

And, speaking at his post-match press conference, he said of Kyrgios: "He didn't come to Czech and had stress fractures and somehow played Indian Wells and felt good.

"Now, it's going to be funny for me to see whether he plays.

"If he plays Indian Wells, then he's definitely lost a little bit of my respect."

Tomic himself carried a wrist injury into the tie and added: "In a situation where it wasn't Davis Cup, I would have pulled out and not played with the pain I was playing with."

However, Hewitt said that Kyrgios' absence from the tie was completely legitimate.

"Nick came down here and gave everything he had to try to be available and there's no doubt he was sick," said the Australia captain.

"We did a fitness test with him on Thursday morning before we had to make any decision about changing names before the draw, and he was ruled out by the medical staff."

Meanwhile, the Americans were saluting Isner, who produced a phenomenal display of serving during his win over Tomic.

Isner sent down 49 aces in the match, and cranked up a serve of 157 miles per hour, which is claimed to be the fastest serve ever above challenger level.

American captain Jim Courier said: "It's breathtaking to watch him serve the way he did.

"He stepped up big for us. He's done it for us in Davis Cup before and he did it again today."