Tomic still has a lot of work to do if he wants to play Davis Cup

Bernard Tomic got to an ATP semifinal for the first time since 2016 but has a lot of work to do, according to Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

Tomic scored wins against Top 50 players for the first time since 2017, with victories over Robin Haase and Fernando Verdasco on his way to reaching the semifinal at 's-Hertogenbosch. He did, however, lose in three sets to Richard Gasquet in the semis.

The 25-year-old former No. 17 was below 250 a few weeks ago but qualified for the French Open and is now No. 181, and will go higher next week.

But Hewitt said this week he still has a long climb.

WATCH—On the passing of Maria Bueno:

"He's got to work a lot harder if he wants to get back, that's for sure," Hewitt told *AAP*. "To be fair he did well, to battle through qualifiers to reach the French Open. But to then get beat by a lucky loser in very ordinary fashion...that's pretty disappointing. He's got quite a way to get back to where he once was and that is going to be very difficult for him."

Tomic, who has talked about sometimes having a lack of motivation, has played just five events this season—mixed with a reality TV appearance.

"I feel that all the work I have done is for all to see here and I'm playing really well," he said, according to the ATP website.

Tomic has not played Davis Cup since 2016 and there is now a lot of competition, with Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Matt Ebden, Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson among those who have recently played for the Australian team. But having recently been stuck in qualifying and challengers, this week is still a step towards playing ATP events regularly again.