Problem parents

The father of Australian teenager Jelena Dokic was banned from a Wimbledon tune-up event in Birmingham because of his "unruly behaviour" during and following his daughter's match.

Damir Dokic had to be physically removed from the stands by security guards during a first-round match involving his 16-year-old daughter and was barred for the remainder of the tournament.

"Mr Dokic's conduct will be closely monitored and further incidents could result in an extension of the ban or the revocation of any or all privileges at future WTA Tour events," the WTA Tour said.

After shouting at spectators and officials during the match, Dokic was asked to leave by a WTA Tour official. When he refused, security guards lifted him up and carried him to the exit. At that point Dokic threw himself into the middle of the road, lying down in the path of oncoming traffic. He was finally taken away by police who cautioned him for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

This was not the first incident of the WTA Tour having to deal with untoward behaviour by parents of young players. Mary Pierce's father, Jim, was banned from the women's tour from 1993 to 1998 over his behaviour while last year, then 16-year-old Mirjana Lucic left her father Marinko, saying that she had been physically abused by him.