Controversial Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has been dropped from the Davis Cup side for Sam Groth in the reverse singles rubber in Darwin.

With Australia 2-1 down in the quarter-final tie against Kazakhstan, the Australians must win both matches to progress to the next round, to face either Great Britain or France.

Kyrgios, ranked 41st in the world, was disappointing against world number 115 Aleksandr Nedovyesov in the second rubber of the tie, losing in four sets 6-7 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2), 6/7 (7/5), 6-4.

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 His teammate Thanasi Kokkinakis, who lost his rubber against the top-ranked Kazak Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets, has kept his place in the team.

Australia’s hope of a win were kept alive after Lleyton Hewitt and Groth won the doubles rubber in a convincing straight sets display on Saturday.

After that match, Australia captain Wally Masur hinted both Kokkinakis and Kyrgios could be replaced.

Kyrgios has been at the centre of controversy, with suggestions of “tanking” in his quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon.

At the Davis Cup on Friday he looked disengaged and distracted, and was unable to break Nedovyesov in crucial points.