Bernard Tomic taunts Lleyton Hewitt as rift reaches flashpoint

The rift between Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic is at flashpoint after the Gold Coast rebel taunted the former world No 1 while lifting the lid on rumours he threatened violence against him.

• Fact v Fiction: What Tomic got right in Hewitt rant
• Pat Cash weighs in on Tomic-Hewitt stoush

The rift between Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic is at flashpoint after the Gold Coast rebel taunted the former world No. 1 “to come one metre from me if he is a man”.

Unrepentant over claims Hewitt is selfish and treats players connected to a South Australian management company more favourably than others, Tomic warned Hewitt to stay away.

Asked to respond to claims he had threatened grand slam champion Hewitt via email and texts, Tomic told the Herald Sun: “Two years ago, I said ‘If he ever tries to talk to me, I’ll knock him out’.”

Bernard Tomic is standing by his claims about Lleyton Hewitt. Picture: Michael Klein

Tomic said he stood by claims Hewitt had “ruined the system”, marginalising Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“No-one likes him anymore,” Tomic said after first-round Australian Open defeat.

“He’s just doing the wrong thing.

“He’s playing Davis Cup — I thought he was retired.

“He used to hate Tennis Australia.

“It’s weird. And now he loves them. What’s happened here?

“But I guess he’s using them for other things and resources and … yep. And it’s for his pay cheque, yep.”

The rift between Bernard Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt has reached a flashpoint. Picture: Getty Images

Tomic claimed that he and Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios “don’t want to play (Davis Cup) anymore because he’s ruined the system”.

The outburst drew backing for Hewitt from John Newcombe, Todd Woodbridge and Roger Rasheed.

Pat Cash said Tomic’s comments needed to be regarded cautiously but said allegations of preferential treatment need to be investigated.

Hewitt shrugged off Tomic’s claims.

“I had a bit of a laugh actually, it’s kind of Bernie being Bernie,” Hewitt said.

“Especially after a loss last night and going in and complaining about a few things, so for me I kind of just laugh it off and move forward.

“I guess the disappointing thing the Aussies had such a great day yesterday on both the men and women’s side and it probably got overshadowed by Bernie’s comments.”

Hewitt denied he shared a rift with Kokkinakis and Kyrgios.

“I don’t think there’s a rift,” he said.

“There’s always communication going on between the captain, coaches and the players, and leading into the next tie that will all happen.

“The communication, we’ve spoken before the Australian Open.

“We’ll continue to speak after the Australian Open leading into the next Davis Cup tie then we work out, next week, our best team moving forward for the Adelaide tie.”

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