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Bernard Tomic father’s feud with Tennis Australia means he will miss Davis Cup – again

Bernard Tomic is to skip Australia's Davis Cup tie with USA.

Bernard Tomic is to skip Australia's Davis Cup tie with USA. Photo: AAP

Bernard Tomic has again dodged representing Australia in next month’s Davis Cup quarter-final against the United States in Brisbane.

Tomic, a one-time loyal spearhead for skipper Lleyton Hewitt, controversially sat out last month’s 4-1 first-round win over the Czech Republic in Melbourne, citing scheduling issues.

But it is understood his absence was due to an ongoing feud between Tomic’s coach and father John, and Tennis Australia over lack of funding and wildcard support for Tomic’s younger sister Sara.

Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios both expressed their disappointment at Tomic’s no-show, with the frustrated Davis Cup captain saying it was time the Australian No.2 began making his own decisions rather than towing the line of his father.

With no plans to beg anyone to play the century-old teams event which helped define his own career, Hewitt is expected to name the same four-man team that clinched victory over the Czech Republic at Kooyong.

Team nominations are not due until next week but, unless there is a sudden about-face from Tomic, Hewitt will again rely on Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson for singles plus the doubles team of Sam Groth and John Peers.

Rising teenager Alex Di Minaur is also set to travel to Brisbane as an orange boy.

The Australian players will first assemble in Melbourne for a training camp once their commitments at the Miami Open are over.

Australia lost to the USA on grass in Melbourne last year and must strike back to earn a semi-final shot at either Belgium or Italy in September.

The formidable American team of Jack Sock, John Isner, Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey swept past Switzerland – sans Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka – 5-0 in their first-round tie in the US.

Australia’s April 7-9 quarter-final tie will be played on hard court at Pat Rafter Arena.

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