3 minute read

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley says he won't stop under-fire Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt from playing doubles.

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has backed Lleyton Hewitt to continue playing doubles if that's what's required to help his country win Davis Cup ties.

Hewitt came under fire from former Davis Cup spearhead Bernard Tomic during the Australian Open for playing himself in September's World Group playoff loss to Austria.

In a bitter postscript to his first-round loss at Melbourne Park, Tomic also accused Hewitt of favouring certain players and that not only he but also Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis no longer wanted to play Davis Cup under the former world No.1's captaincy.

"No one likes him any more," Tomic said.

Hewitt hit back in spectacular fashion, claiming Tomic had threatened his family and said Tomic would never play for Australia again on his watch.

Tiley on Sunday finally weighed in to the ugly feud, backing Hewitt while also pleading with the captain to try to settle his differences with Tomic.

"From an organisation's view, we support Lleyton," Tiley told AAP.

"But it's not in our organisation's interest for me to say that Bernard's cut out of everything for good because of what he says.

"Our door is always open to resolving issues and to moving forward. You never say never and never say always.

"Hopefully Bernie realises one day that you can progress in this sport, you can have success and there's only one formula that I know that works pretty well - and Lleyton's applied it pretty well - and that's work your butt off."

But while insisting Tomic could one day find himself back in the Cup fold, the reality remains the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist won't play for Australia again while Hewitt remains captain.

"Ultimately, it's Lleyton's decision who he wants on the team," Tiley said.

"I can't choose Lleyton's team for him because then he can say to me, 'well then you can't hold me to account on the outcome'."

Nor will Tiley advise 37-year-old Hewitt not to play doubles.

"I've been asked questions: What about Lleyton playing as a captain? He doesn't make that decision independently. He consults with the team," Tiley said.

"So if they feel it's best as a team to put him out there because there's a chance of them winning, that's what they're going to do.

"And his record speaks for itself."

Hewitt has named Alex de Minaur, John Millman, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and double ace John Peers for next week's Davis Cup qualifying tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Adelaide.

Under the first year of the competition's new format, Australia must win at Memorial Drive from February 1-2 to make the 24-team finals in Madrid in November.