Tennis Australia in crisis talks after Bernard Tomic's attack on Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt

While the eyes of the tennis world were on Andy Murray, Bernard Tomic produced an honourable loss to Australian Open sixth seed Marin Cilic.

Then he blew it all up by launching a scathing attack on Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt as he suggested bias and promotion of players loyal to Hewitt and his management company — and in doing so implicated both Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis ahead of their Australian Open starts.

"No one likes him anymore. We have a lot of issues that not a lot of players are happy about ... he's doing the wrong thing and everyone's leaving," Tomic said when first asked if he expects to play Davis Cup this year.

He played Davis Cup for 10 years but hasn't played consistently since Hewitt has been in charge of the team.

"The players that I have spoken to aren't [happy]. Myself, Kokkinakis, Kyrgios. I think once that sort of gets resolved we'll see. I stand by my call a couple years ago.

"I knew something was wrong in the Davis Cup. And now there is Kokkinakis and Nick as well who aren't playing because they have issues with some people. Hopefully, that can be arranged and the best players can be playing for Australia."

Last year at the Australian Open, Hewitt countered Tomic's claim that Australia couldn't win without him by saying he doubted Tomic would play again under his captaincy.

"Lleyton's legacy and his tennis speaks for itself. He's an unbelievable champion," Tomic said. "But what he's doing now is wrong."

Meanwhile, Hewitt and Tennis Australia are believed to be locked in crisis talks after Tomic's comments, foxsports.com.au reported.

Top of the agenda is Hewitt's Davis Cup captaincy and his involvement with his management group.

- with AP