Tomic crashed out of the Australian Open after a first- round loss to Marin Cilic but it was his comments mad post-match that has everyone talking.
Tomic was defeated 6-2 6-4 7-6 (7-3) by world No.7 Marin Cilic on Monday night on his return to the tournament, a year after losing in qualifying for his home grand slam.
An hour after his loss, Tomic was turning his attention towards Lleyton Hewitt and his role as Davis Cup captain, claiming that “no one likes him anymore”.
Tomic said he spoke for Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios in saying they would not play for Australia with Hewitt there.
“It’s all Lleyton. I have got to say honestly no one likes him any more, he is doing the wrong thing, he is playing Davis Cup – I thought he was retired, he is playing all these matches,”
“I did a bit of work with him (Hewitt) a couple of years ago. 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.”
“Kokkinakis, Kyrgios we don’t want to play any more because he has ruined the system. Go away. Literally, if he is retired why is he still in tennis? Why do you play these doubles tournaments?”
Kokkinakis was controversially overlooked for a wildcard to this year’s Australian Open but won through to the draw through qualifying. Australia’s Alex Bolt was granted a wildcard.
There has been a reported rift between Hewitt and Kokkinakis dating back to Hewitt overlooking Kokkinakis for a Davis Cup tie in 2017, choosing instead the then lower-ranked John Millman.
Hewitt is playing doubles at this year’s Australian Open with John-Patrick Smith. He also received a wildcard into the Brisbane International with Alex De Minaur but they were eliminated in the first round
He also reveived a doubles wildcard to the Sydney International where he and Jordan Thompson made the semi final.
“I think Wally was a geat captain, Wally Masur was an unbelievable Davis Cup captain and someone that everyone liked and don’t worry Lleyton’s legacy and his tennis speaks for itself he is an unbelievable captain but what he is doing now is wrong so hopefully he can get moved.”
Tomic said he was eager to reurn to playing for Australia and wanted the issues with Hewitt as captain resolved because he and others would not play under Hewitt.
“You want to play, you want to have your best team and I played Davis Cup for ten years, I played at the youngest age for Australia in history when I was 15.
“It just sucks to see some of the people there doing the wrong things.”
While Tomic crashed out of the Open, a number of Australians — including Alex de Minaur and Ash Barty — progressed through to the second round.
