Out:Hewitt addressed the media after he and John-Patrick Smith lost their first-round doubles match at the Australian Open.Credit:AAP
Hewitt said Nick Kyrgios was"absolutely"salvageable as a Davis Cup player in the future despite admitting his disappointment at the 23-year-old taking apotshot at him on social media on Wednesday night. However,Tomic was finished when it came to the national team under his leadership,he said.
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"It makes me disappointed because deep down Bernie knows what I’ve done for him,how much time I’ve spent,you know,I’ve flown up to the Gold Coast to try and put teams around him when he was struggling mentally with certain issues as well with his family situation,"Hewitt said.
Hewitt said he and Davis Cup adviser Tony Roche were trying to set a"cultural standard"that both Tomic and Kyrgios had failed to meet.
"All I want guys to do is to commit to the sport and work hard and to play for Australia,"he said.
"With the new Davis Cup system,it’s only possibly twice a year,but it’s got to be every week of the year. You’re representing your country every single week,you’ve got kids back in Australia idolising these guys. That’s one thing,the other is to go out and be a great role model the whole time. I’m happy to help anyone who is willing meet me halfway.
"Nick ... with what he said in Brisbane and not actually wanting to be there at the tournament,that hurts one of our Australian events. He’s got some work to do to get up to those standards.
"When I was working with Bernie,the biggest thing I probably saw with him is he didn’t work hard enough."
He said he had spoken to Kyrgios about his social media outbursts,which he deemed unacceptable.
"Nick I feel still has a lot to learn,absolutely,"he said.
On the outer:Bernard Tomic launched the feud with comments following his first-round loss on Monday.Credit:AAP
While Tomic is on the outer and Kyrgios has not fulfilled his enormous promise to date,Hewitt said he did not think Australian tennis was broken.
"I don't know what's happened,why Bernie is Bernie,"he said."I have no idea,it's probably his upbringing I'd say is a big part to do with it.
"The most disappointing ... on day one we had these great wins by a lot of our guys and all these Bernie quotes overshadows it. It's one clown making a silly comment and that's the main news."
Hewitt was heartened by the surprise victories of Australian wildcardsAlex Bolt and Alexei Popyrin on Thursday night.
Hewitt said he would not play doubles in next month’s Davis Cup tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Adelaide.