After officially retiring from professional tennis in 2016, Lleyton Hewitt became the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team.
The former world number one helped his country win the prestigious tournament twice as a player in 1999 and 2003, and has since reached two finals whilst being at the helm.
Hewitt guided Australia to the final in 2022, but his side could not get over the line against Canada, losing 2-0.
They returned to the final stage in 2023, but fell this time to a strong Italian side, suffering another 2-0 defeat.
Despite taking his country to back-to-back Davis Cup finals, Hewitt was once told that ‘no one liked him’ as captain.
Bernard Tomic’s criticism of Lleyton Hewitt in 2019
After losing his first-round match at the Australian Open in 2019, Bernard Tomic was asked about making a return to the Australian Davis Cup team after not featuring since 2016.
Tomic shut down the possibility of a comeback and proceeded to blast captain Hewitt.
As per the Guardian, the former Australian number one said: “No one likes him any more. 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.
“He used to hate Tennis Australia, it’s weird. Now he loves them. What’s happened here?
“I played Davis Cup for 10 years. I think I played at the youngest age in Australian history when I was 15.
“Lleyton’s legacy and his tennis speaks for itself. He’s an unbelievable champion. But what he’s doing now is wrong. I hope he gets moved and we can go back to having a good captain.”
Nick Kyrgios’ response to Bernard Tomic’s criticism of Lleyton Hewitt
When asked in an Australian Open press conference if he had heard Tomic’s comments, countryman Nick Kyrgios said: “I didn’t see them.”
Kyrgios confirmed there was not a ‘rift’ between him and Hewitt, and was lost for words at the situation.
“I don’t know what to say, like, I’m available. That’s all I got to say,” said the former Wimbledon finalist.
After stating he approved of Hewitt as captain going forward, Kyrgios called Tomic’s criticisms ‘ridiculous’.
“With all the issues that are going on in the world, we’re focusing on someone’s comments about Davis Cup. It’s pretty sad. It’s pretty sad.”
Australia went on to reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup in 2019 before being knocked out by Canada.
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