Australian Open 2019: Tomic lashes Hewitt for ‘conflict of interest’

Bernard Tomic has levelled an extraordinary critique at Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

Bernard Tomic hits a return in his loss to Marin Cilic last night. Picture: AFP

Bernard Tomic has levelled an extraordinary critique at Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, accusing him of abusing the system as ructions within the playing ranks exploded to the surface.

Speaking after a 6-2 6-4 7-6 (3) loss to last year’s Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic, the Queenslander opted to vent his anger at the manner in which he alleges the former world No. 1 is manipulating the local wildcard system.

“It’s all Lleyton. I’m going to say it honestly — no one likes him anymore,” he said.

“He’s just doing the wrong thing. He’s playing Davis Cup — I thought he was retired. He’s playing all these matches and stuff like this. You know what I mean? 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.”

Lleyton Hewitt watches Alex de Minaur yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

The relationship between Tomic and Hewitt has waxed and waned through the years but last night’s outburst represented a new low as the Gold Coast resident expressed his disdain for the 2002 Wimbledon champion.

There was significant surprise when Thanasi Kokkinakis was overlooked for a wildcard into the Australian Open in favour of compatriots including Marc Polmans, Alex Bolt and emerging teenage talent Alexei Popyrin.

The South Australian, who skipped a training camp hosted by Hewitt in Queensland in early December after receiving medical treatment on his knee, has since qualified and will play Taro Daniel today.

Kokkinakis refused to comment on the snub after qualifying on Friday. Nick Kyrgios had previously written on social media that Hewitt had abandoned Kokkinakis and himself, though he subsequently deleted the post and claimed he was joking.

But Tomic, who performed reasonably well against the former US Open champion Cilic last night after returning to the top 100 late last year following a stint in the tennis wilderness, clearly feels he has nothing to lose.

He claimed that Kokkinakis, Kyrgios and himself no longer “want to play (Davis Cup) anymore because he has ruined the system” and that Hewitt should “go away”.

“He doesn’t put Nick first, he doesn’t put Kokkinakis first. He only thinks of himself,” he blasted.

“You’re not playing, bro. You’re retired. Wally was a great captain and someone that everyone liked. Don’t worry — Lleyton’s legacy and tennis speaks for itself. But what he’s doing now is wrong.”

Hewitt has received a wildcard into the Australian Open doubles and will partner John-Patrick Smith. He previously received a wildcard into the Brisbane International, where he and Alex de Minaur were beaten in the first round, splitting $3,800.

Playing on a wildcard in the Sydney International last week, Hewitt and Jordan Thompson reached the semi-finals, where they earned prize money of $11,500.

Tennis Australia, which employs Hewitt as the nation’s Davis Cup captain, has been contacted for comment.

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