‘Nobody here likes him anymore’: Bernard Tomic unleashes astonishing insults at Lleyton Hewitt for ‘putting himself first’ after the tennis bad boy was knocked out of the Australian Open on day one
- Tennis star Bernard Tomic publicly slammed former champion Lleyton Hewitt
- Made several explosive allegations against Hewitt in post-match rant
- He called for Hewitt to be replaced as Australia’s Davis Cup captain
- Followed Tomic’s first round Australian Open loss in Melbourne on Monday night
Controversial tennis star Bernard Tomic has reignited hostilities with former champion Lleyton Hewitt in an explosive tirade at the Australian Open.
Once ranked 17th in the world, Tomic didn’t hold back on his feelings on Australia’s Davis Cup captain in his post-match press conference after crashing out of the grand slam on the first night in a straight sets loss against sixth seed Marin Cilic on Monday night.
‘It’s all Lleyton. I’m going to say it honestly — no one likes him anymore,’ Tomic said.
‘Go away. Like, literally. If you’ve retired, why are you still in tennis?’ Bernard Tomic reignited his rift with Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt in an explosive post-match tirade
‘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?
Tomic accused the 2005 Australian Open runner-up of dividing Australia’s playing ranks.
‘We have a lot of issues that not a lot of players are happy about. We all know who those players are. Myself, (Thanasi) Kokkinakis, (Nick) Kyrgios,’ Tomic said.
‘I hope he can get moved and we can go back to having a good captain. Go away. Like, literally. If you’ve retired, why are you still in tennis?’
The outspoken star then took the explosive allegations a step further by accusing Hewitt of promoting Australian talent for his own personal financial gain.
Lleyton Hewitt (pictured) should step down as Australia’s Davis Cup captain, according to controversial tennis star Bernard Tomic
‘All these guys that got wildcards are under a system … Polmans, Bolty, Jordan Thompson,’ Tomic said
‘They’re all under Lleyton’s wing under the management company. It’s all conflict of interest. And then he’s in Davis Cup and he’s doing the wrong thing and everyone’s leaving.’
While describing Hewitt as an unbelievable champion, Tomic said it was time for a new Australian Davis Cup captain.
Bernard Tomic crashed out of the Australian Open in the first round on Monday night
‘Lleyton’s legacy and his tennis speaks for itself. But what he’s doing now is wrong, ‘ he said.
‘I hope he gets moved and we can go back to having a good captain.’
His short press conference was then brought to an abrupt end by a tournament official.
‘Have fun with that,’ Tomic told reporters as he left.
Relations between Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt (pictured) have been frosty for some time
Fans weren’t sympathetic to Tomic on social media.
‘Bernard Tomic trying to out-flog himself. Dimwit would be lucky to have 1/128th of the heart and determination that Lleyton has. Primadonna, know your role and shut your mouth,’ one tweeted.
Another added: ‘Bernard Tomic you need to stop deflecting blame for your mistakes and your misgivings. The situation you find yourself in now is entirely your own fault. Not Lleyton Hewitt’s, not Tennis Australia’s. No one likes you anymore if we are being honest.’
It’s not the first time Tomic has lashed out at the Australian tennis legend in recent times.
‘We have a lot of issues that not a lot of players are happy about,’ Tomic said after the match
Tomic hit back with strong words after Hewitt revealed 12 months ago it was ‘highly doubtful’ Tomic represent his country in the Davis Cup again.
‘I don’t care what Lleyton said, I never lost to him,’ Tomic told The Project in February last year following a short lived stint on reality show I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.
‘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.’