Retiring Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt has kept his US Open hopes alive, but the 34-year-old says he is dreading his second-round clash with fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic.

Hewitt overcame the injured Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-0, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0, while Tomic came from a set down to knock off Damir Dzumhur 5-7, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3 to set up the showdown with Hewitt in New York on Thursday.

Despite a rocky start to their relationship at Wimbledon six years ago, the pair have worked closely together and have formed a close friendship.

While the pair have spent a lot of time together on the practice courts, the two Australians have not played against each other at tournament level.

However, Hewitt said he wasn't looking forward to squaring off against the troubled 22-year-old and has never discussed the prospect of doing so.

"No, never really spoken about it," Hewitt said.

"As I said, you know, Bernie and I have got a really good relationship. He trusts me a lot. Yeah, I don't like playing any of the Aussies. I had to play [Thanasi] Kokkinakis last year in Brisbane.

"I played Grothy [Sam Groth] in Brisbane this year. I had to play JP Smith only a couple of weeks ago. For me, in the position that I'm in now, trying to help these guys, especially with Davis Cup and the rest of it, yeah, it's tough."

In 2009 the Tomic camp knocked back an offer from Hewitt to practice with him at a tournament he failed to qualify for.

The then 16-year-old was immediately shunned by the Australian public, who were taken aback by such a reaction to Hewitt's gesture.

But six years on Tomic views Hewitt as a mentor and admits the prospect of reaching the third round at the expense of his close friend is difficult to fathom.

"It is not going to be easy for me," Tomic said.

"I look up to him a lot. He is a legend to me, to a lot of people around the world, and it is a shame that maybe, in the next month or so, he might stop, but it is an opportunity. I have never played him and it could be fun. We have played so many times in practice and it is fun always to play Lleyton. It is an opportunity for me to make my first third round in the US Open.

"Obviously playing a legend, it is not going to be easy, but I am sure we will handle it well and have fun out there, which is the main thing. It was almost a sign for us to never play, that is how I saw it, with the draws and stuff, but we have to play once. Win or lose, we have to have fun, go for it. He has nothing to lose. He is going to be going for it, so for me, it is going to be more tough."

Tomic said he would feel guilty ending Hewitt's run at what will be the former US Open champion's swansong.
 
"I would [feel bad], but he can also beat me," Tomic said.

"He is a very good player. Our records in practice are probably about 60 per cent that he has won sets and 40 per cent that I have.

"I don't like playing him and he doesn't like playing me because sometimes I do really well against him. I just have to go out there and use the moment and have fun. I am sure he will do the same."