Bernard Tomic slams Lleyton Hewitt over Davis Cup snub

Bernard Tomic has hit back at Lleyton Hewitt after the Australian tennis legend said it was ‘highly doubtful’ he would ever play for his country in the Davis Cup again.

Fresh from a short-lived stint on reality show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, the 25-year-old wasted no time in attacking his critics in typical fashion.

‘I don’t care what Lleyton said, I never lost to him,’ Tomic said on The Project, despite Hewitt reaching his prime as world number one over 15 years ago.

When asked if he was depressed before going entering the reality show, he said: ‘No, no, no. I wasn’t like that.’

‘I got to top 16, 17 in the world, in one of the biggest sports in the world. You can’t get to where I got to if you’re not mentally strong,’ he added.  

Bernard Tomic has hit back at Lleyton Hewitt after the Australian tennis legend said it was ‘highly doubtful’ he would ever play for his country in the Davis Cup again

The 25-year-old denied claims he was ever depressed, saying he would never have made it to number 16 in the world without mental strength and stability

The 25-year-old denied claims he was ever depressed, saying he would never have made it to number 16 in the world without mental strength and stability

Tomic doubled down on claims Australia would never be able to win the Davis Cup without him. 

‘I think the important thing (is) there’s a reason why I played David Cup at the youngest age for Australia in history,’ he said.

‘I stand by my call. They know they can’t win without me and I know they can’t win without me.’ 

Tomic has played 17 matches for Australia in the Davis Cup.

The last time he played in Davis Cup was in 2016 when Australia lost to the US in the first round.

The suffering tennis player also reiterated his previous controversial claims of corruption within Tennis Australia.

‘Yeah, I’m not happy with that whole sort of situation there with Tennis Australia until that sort of clears and until a few of the problems come out,’ he said.

‘We’ve seen it with the FIFA Federation and stuff how they were corrupt – and I know it’s in there and I am yet to address all the issues there, but maybe in the coming future I can speak about it. 

‘So hopefully they can address for my sake, for their sake and I would love nothing but coming back to playing Davis Cup but that stuff needs to be addressed in the next couple of years.’

 'I think the important thing there's a reason why I played David Cup at the youngest age for Australia in history,' Bernard Tomic said, pictured with Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

 ‘I think the important thing there’s a reason why I played David Cup at the youngest age for Australia in history,’ Bernard Tomic said, pictured with Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

 Leading sports psychologist Jeff Bond believes Tomic needs professional counselling.

“I am generally concerned when anyone says they are ­depressed,” Bond was quoted in The Australian.

“I hope he seeks out a professional to run his thinking by and get some objective feedback, someone he trusts so he can take advantage of this new ­approach.’’

Once ranked number 17 in the world, Tomic is now focused on getting back to his tennis career and make playing for Australia a priority.  



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