“It's Bernie Being Bernie” - Lleyton Hewitt Hits Back At Verbal Attack From Bernard Tomic - UBITENNIS

“It’s Bernie Being Bernie” – Lleyton Hewitt Hits Back At Verbal Attack From Bernard Tomic

A war of words have broken out between the two Australian tennis personalities.

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
Lleyton Hewitt (zimbio.com)

Lleyton Hewitt has played down a series of strongly-worded comments made by Bernard Tomic in which he was accused of damaging Australian tennis.

On the opening day of the Australian Open, Tomic launched a shock attack on the former world No.1 shortly after his first round loss to Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic. Tomic said that ‘no one likes’ Hewitt any more and accused him of ruining their national association. Claiming that both Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios doesn’t want to play in the Davis Cup because of him. Hewitt has been the Australian Davis Cup captain since 2016.

“”It’s all Lleyton. I’m going to say it honestly – no one likes him anymore,” said Tomic, who blames him for divisions within Tennis Australia.
“He’s just doing the wrong thing. He’s playing Davis Cup – I thought he was retired. 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.”

Tomic said that Hewitt ‘doesn’t put the players first.’ Criticising his decision to continuing playing in tournaments after retiring. Hewitt has played in numerous doubles tournaments since announcing that he will step away from the professional tour three years ago. This week in has been granted a wildcard into the men’s doubles draw at the Australian Open alongside John-Patrick Smith.

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

Hewitt vows to stay

In response the criticism, Hewitt has pledged to maintain his role as Davis Cup captain. Despite Tomic’s calls for him to ‘move on.’ During an interview with the Nine Network, the 37-year-old blasted his compatriot for ‘overshadowing’ the achievement of Australian players on the first day of the Melbourne grand slam.

“I actually had a bit of a laugh. It’s Bernie being Bernie and losing and going on and complaining about a few things,” Hewitt said.
“I laugh it off and go forward. I am working with a few guys and I am excited.
“The disappointing thing is that the Aussie men and women had a great day and it was overshadowed by Bernard Tomic.”

Hewitt has also dismissed the idea that there is unhappiness among members of his Davis Cup Team. Meanwhile Tennis Australia’s head of performance, Wally Masur, has said he supports Hewitt.

“I don’t think that there is a rift,” He stated.
“There is always communication going on with captain, coach and players and leading into the next tie that will all happen but those boys are going on with big matches today.
“The communication, we’ve spoken before the Australian Open and we will continue to speak after the Australian Open leading into the next Davis Cup tie and then we work out next week our best team moving forward into the Adelaide tie.
“For me, I love being a part and helping the Australian players as much as possible.”

Tennis Australian has confirmed that they will hold a meeting with Hewitt on Tuesday to discuss the situation and how to address it.

Leave a comment