Bernard Tomic admits ‘tough’ to play against fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt in 2015 US Open

Australian Bernard Tomic admitted that it was a tough task playing against compatriot Lleyton Hewitt, who is in the tail end of his illustrious tennis career. Tomic defeated Hewitt in five sets, 6-3 6-2 3-6 5-7 7-5 as the older Australian fought back from two sets down but couldn’t complete the comeback.

“Yeah, it was. It was very tough for me before the match. Then during the match, you know, I freed up a little bit,” Tomic said in the post-match interview when asked about playing his mentor via the tournament’s official website.

“I was playing very good. But it was the first time for me where it was an Australian crowd, but it was all for Lleyton. Not in a bad way for me, but everyone wanted for him, the best US Open, you know, maybe a victory. But it was a tough position because I'm used to the Australian crowd being on my side.”

The 22-year-old Tomic added that if he was part of the crowd he would also have cheered for 34-year-old Hewitt, who is pegged to be playing his final US Open in his career. Hewitt was a former World No. 1 in 2001 when he won that year’s US Open. The Australian has also won majors in the 2002 Wimbledon Championships and made the final of the 2005 Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the French Open, twice, in 2001 and 2004.

Hewitt is the team captain of the Australian team at the Davis Cup, which includes Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, Sam Groth and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Tomic advanced to the third round of the 2015 US Open where he will face Frenchman Richard Gasquet, a 4-6 6-3 7-6 (4) 6-4 winner over Robin Haase of the Netherlands in their own second round match.

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