Tennis superstar Lleyton Hewitt has come out swinging against Bernard Tomic, who allegedly threatened the Hewitt family with blackmail.
On Thursday night, Bernard took aim at the Davis Cup captain in a post-match tirade with a series of accusations against the pro, including a suggestion that Lleyton gained a portion of money from being invested in and promoting Aussie players in the Davis Cup team.
“It’s a conflict of interest,” Tomic said.
The 22-year-old also claimed that Aussie tennis champs Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios are “boycotting” the team while Hewitt remains captain, because “he’s ruined the system”.
The dramatic press conference was cut off after five minutes by an Australian Open media official.
According to News.com.au, Hewitt responded to the sensational claims during his own press conference, by “declaring the world No. 88 had been officially blacklisted from the Australian Davis Cup team” and that he would “never play for Australia again”.
Hewitt also alleged that the world No.88 player has blackmailed his family on numerous occasions.
Bernard Tomic has allegedly threated Lleyton’s family with blackmail. (Source: Getty)
He also responded to Bernard “daring” the champion to “come within one metre” of him and a threat that he would “knock him out if they ever came face-to-face again”.
“For me it was probably the abuse that I copped,” Hewitt said. “I had to draw a line in the sand and that will continue. He won’t play Davis Cup. I haven’t spoken to him since.
“The threats that I have received for me and my family, I’ve had for a year and a half now.”
The blackmail and “physical threats” involved his wife Bec Hewitt.
“I don’t know what’s happened or why Bernie is Bernie. I have no idea,” Lleyton said of the young pro.
“It’s probably his upbringing. That would have a big part to do with it.
“For me, the biggest frustration is that I feel like I really went out of my way to help Bernie. Especially when I first came into the role.
“At the end of the day, he just kept making the wrong mistakes.”
Lleyton with his son Crus, 10 and wife Bec Hewitt. (Source: Getty)
In July, Bec and Lleyton will celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary.
The golden couple, who began dating just six weeks before the tennis ace proposed, tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at the landmark Sydney Opera House on July 21, 2005.
Today, Bec and Lleyton are the proud parents to their three kids Mia, 13, Cruz, 10, and Ava, eight.
WATCH NEXT: Bernard Tomic takes aim at Lleyton Hewitt
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Lleyton, who retired in 2016, chatted to The Weekly about his love for spending time his children… and their gorgeous little cavoodle.
“Honestly, the kids love the dog. We can go out walking for an hour and the time will just fly,” he laughed.
“Most of the laughter in our household is based around the dog,” his wife agreed.
Bec and Lleyton’s three children – Mia, 13, Cruz, 10, and Ava, eight. (Source: Instagram)
