De Minaur receives first Davis Cup nod

Rising star Alex De Minaur has been named in Australia's Davis Cup team to face Germany in Brisbane on February 2-4.

Lleyton Hewitt revealed the news of the 18-year-old's maiden selection on Channel 7's Australian Open coverage.

De Minaur joins Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, John Millman and doubles specialist John Peers in the squad for the first-round match in the world group.

"A big one for Alex to be getting the gold jacket," said Todd Woodbridge.

"That's going to be a great thing for him."

Matt Ebden has missed out on selection despite being Australia's No.2-ranked player behind Kyrgios.

The 30-year-old shocked American No.16 seed John Isner in the first round of the Australian Open before losing to veteran Alexandr Dolgopolov in the second round.

Ebden, however, will join the team with Alex Bolt as hitting partners.

It was revealed earlier on Tuesday that Thanasi Kokkinakis would spend more time on the sidelines with a new injury.

The 21-year-old suffered a torn pectoral muscle in his first-round loss at the Australian Open.

“I’m not sure what the timeline is on when I can play again but I don’t want to risk rushing it," he told News Corp.

De Minaur produced scintillating tennis earlier in January to become a Brisbane semi-finalist and the Sydney runner-up, but he went down in the opening round of the Australian Open to eventual quarter-finalist Tomas Berdych.

Kyrgios won the Brisbane tournament and reached the fourth round in a summer of much-improved performances.

Germany's squad is expected to be headlined by Alexander Zverev and his older brother Mischa, who on Tuesday received the biggest fine in grand slam history.

FULL STORY: Zverev cops record fine over controversial exit