Jim Courier at Pat Rafter Arena. Picture: Mark Calleja

An out of form Tomic was not selected for Friday’s quarter-final against the US after a standoff with Tennis Australia that led to his unavailability for the Cup’s first round.

Australian team captain Lleyton Hewitt can draw on only three top-100 players at the moment but has not been unable to keep Tomic in the fold, leaving Jordan Thompson, ranked 79th, as the likely No.2 singles player in support of Nick Kyrgios, ranked No.16.

“I felt great having someone like Andre Agassi or Todd Martin or Pete Sampras,’’ former world No.1 Courier said.

Tomic whinges that about Kyrgios in Australia’s last tie against the US. Picture: Wayne LudbeySource:News Corp Australia

“I did feel there was some other cavalry (behind me). Jordan is cavalry, but he doesn’t have the pedigree from a ranking standpoint.

“Rankings can be insignificant in Davis Cup. Some love the pressure of Davis Cup and some falter in the cauldron. I’ll find out a lot about their team that I don’t know this weekend, the same as I’ll find out about my team.’’

Tomic, who has a 17-4 Davis Cup singles win-loss record, beat top-ranked American Jack Sock on the first day of a tie in Melbourne last year which Kyrgios missed because of illness, the sole match Australia took out in a 3-1 defeat.

“I don’t know what the dynamics of what Bernie’s going through with TA,’’ Courier said.

“He played last year and was awfully tough on us. I’m sure it’s disappointing for Lleyton and the boys that he’s not involved.

“We know Jordan Thompson will be ready to fight. Nick has been playing some of the best tennis on tour this season and we’ll have to do something special to beat him.’’

If captains Hewitt and Courier retain their incumbent singles players, Thompson would meet Sock, the highest-ranked player in the tie at No.15, on Friday.

Jim Courier at Pat Rafter Arena. Picture: Mark CallejaSource:News Limited

Kyrgios would take on the serving power of the 204cm Isner, who won both his singles matches in the Melbourne tie over Sam Groth and Tomic.

“I love playing for the green and gold,’’ Thompson, 22, said.

“Davis Cup is a different sort of pressure. It’s five sets – there’s a lot of tennis to be played.

“I’m definitely the underdog. They (the four Americans all) are in the top 30.’’

The winner of the Brisbane quarter-final will play either Belgium or Italy in September for a place in the final and Courier said both teams would be glimpsing the chance to end a Davis Cup title drought this year.

“Both teams here would look at who’s left among the great players (among nations still in the competition),’’ he said.

“There’s a relative opportunity. You never know who’s going to be healthy or invested in it (playing the semi-final). It’s been 2007 since we’ve won it and I’m sure you guys feel the same.’’

Australia have not won the Davis Cup since 2003.

Originally published as Tomic absence huge blow for Aussies: Courier