Kyrgios says "the sport will die out" without team events

This week’s overhauled Davis Cup Finals is one of three men’s team events taking place over a four-month period. While there’s been internal divide over whether three is too many on the annual calendar, Nick Kyrgios is adamant about their role in keeping tennis relevant.

"I just think moving forward that is the way the sport has to go. You look at the best sports in the world [and] from an entertainment purpose, they are killing tennis,” Kyrgios told AAP.

"That is why the ATP and the ITF are trying to create more events, because if they continue to go down the path they are right now, the sport will die out."

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The Australian’s viewpoint is no surprise, given his passion for team sports, particularly basketball. Kyrgios has suited up for Team World in all three Laver Cup editions and previously wore green and gold for 11 Davis Cup ties. This week in Madrid, Kyrgios won his first two singles rubbers to help his country win Group D under the revamped format. Australia will take on Canada in the first quarterfinal Friday evening.

"I just love being with this Australia team. TV viewers like it and I think people want to see more of it. It needs to happen more to move the sport on,” Kyrgios said.

In September, Kyrgios ended his ATP season after being put on a six-month probationary period by the tour.

The investigation concluded the 24-year-old committed Aggravated Behavior under the Major Player Offense provision in the ATP code during his second-round loss to Karen Khachanov in Cincinnati, where he was issued a record $113,000 fine.