TENNIS NEWS - Australia's No 2 Bernard Tomic will be absent from this week's Davis Cup quarterfinals but the United States will still have a fight on their hands in Brisbane due to the impressive form of Nick Kyrgios, US team captain Jim Courier said.

Kyrgios pushed Roger Federer to the limit in a classic Miami Open semifinal on Friday and beat world number two Novak Djokovic twice in succession in the recent US hardcourt swing.

The 21-year-old firebrand will shoulder Australia's hopes at Brisbane's Pat Rafter Arena, with world No 79 Jordan Thompson retained for the singles while out-of-form Tomic continues his self-imposed exile.

Jack Sock and John Isner are expected to lead off the singles for the US team, who defeated the hosts at Melbourne's Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in the first round last year.

"Nick has been playing some of the best tennis on tour already this season so he’s in great form and should have a lot of confidence," Courier told reporters in Brisbane.