ID :
35490
Sat, 12/13/2008 - 18:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/35490
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Tomic's dad sorry for WA tennis blow-up
Bernard Tomic's dad has made a public apology following his son's controversial exit
from a Perth tennis tournament earlier this month.
The father of the rising star has been in hot water after hauling his 16-year-old
son off the court at the Sorrento event over accusations of poor umpiring.
But after tennis officials threatened to end Bernard's chances of playing at next
month's Australian Open, John Tomic met their demand for a public apology on
Saturday.
"I am a father who wants the best in the world for my children I realise that my
actions have actually hurt my son, that hurts me deeply and I want to correct the
situation which is why I am fronting here to apologise without reservation," John
Tomic told reporters in Melbourne.
"I apologise to the Perth officials, to tennis Australia, to our friends, sponsors
and tennis fans and especially to my son."
"I was wrong. All I want is for Bernard to be the best he can be as a person and as
a tennis player representing the things he loves dearly, his family, his sport and
his country."
Craig Tiley, the Australian Open boss and Tennis Australia's Director of Tennis,
said the Tomics weren't completely off the hook but John's public statement would
have at least appeased local officials.
Tiley said TA had yet to make a final decision on the affair and the International
Tennis Federation was still investigating the incident.
"The ITF will make a decision on if he will be punished further or fined and we will
support that action pending their review of Bernard and John's behaviour," he said.
"That is likely to come in the next couple of months."
Tiley said the latest troubled tennis dad had been warned there wasn't room in the
sport for bad behaviour.
"John is aware that if he gets out of line and does something not appropriate that
there will be the next step for us and that could range anything from the withdrawal
of funding to sanctioning the participation of an event," said Tiley.
"Then if it continues to even harsher discipline."
from a Perth tennis tournament earlier this month.
The father of the rising star has been in hot water after hauling his 16-year-old
son off the court at the Sorrento event over accusations of poor umpiring.
But after tennis officials threatened to end Bernard's chances of playing at next
month's Australian Open, John Tomic met their demand for a public apology on
Saturday.
"I am a father who wants the best in the world for my children I realise that my
actions have actually hurt my son, that hurts me deeply and I want to correct the
situation which is why I am fronting here to apologise without reservation," John
Tomic told reporters in Melbourne.
"I apologise to the Perth officials, to tennis Australia, to our friends, sponsors
and tennis fans and especially to my son."
"I was wrong. All I want is for Bernard to be the best he can be as a person and as
a tennis player representing the things he loves dearly, his family, his sport and
his country."
Craig Tiley, the Australian Open boss and Tennis Australia's Director of Tennis,
said the Tomics weren't completely off the hook but John's public statement would
have at least appeased local officials.
Tiley said TA had yet to make a final decision on the affair and the International
Tennis Federation was still investigating the incident.
"The ITF will make a decision on if he will be punished further or fined and we will
support that action pending their review of Bernard and John's behaviour," he said.
"That is likely to come in the next couple of months."
Tiley said the latest troubled tennis dad had been warned there wasn't room in the
sport for bad behaviour.
"John is aware that if he gets out of line and does something not appropriate that
there will be the next step for us and that could range anything from the withdrawal
of funding to sanctioning the participation of an event," said Tiley.
"Then if it continues to even harsher discipline."
