Hewitt pulls out of Rio coaching role - report

by Reuters

08 Mar 2017, 17:09 IST

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt drinks champagne during a news conference while his children, Ava (2nd L-R), Mia and Cruz, watch after playing his last Australian Open singles match before his retirement, at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 21, 2016. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Files

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Two-times grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has opted out of his role as coach of the Australian men's tennis team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for "personal reasons", local media reported on Sunday.

Hewitt's withdrawal is another blow for Australia's prospects at Rio after top-ranked players Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic withdrew themselves from consideration.

Tennis Australia had applied to the Australian Olympic Committee to replace Hewitt with former professional Mark Draper, Australian Associated Press said.

Hewitt's agent and Tennis Australia were unable to be reached for comment.

Thanasi Kokkinakis and John Millman are representing Australia in the men's singles at Rio, with John Peers and Chris Guccione in the doubles.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)