Teen’s Dad Ejected at Tour Event

The father of 17-year-old Australian player Jelena Dokic was ejected from a Wimbledon warmup tournament in Birmingham, England, for verbally abusing officials during his daughter’s match. He later was arrested for lying down in traffic and jumping on the hood of a car.

Police said Damir Dokic, 40, had been drinking and was arrested “for his own safety.” He was not charged and was released three hours after his arrest.

Dokic was removed by security guards at the DFS Classic at Edgbaston on Tuesday and banned from the remainder of the tournament. If he causes any further trouble, he risks a long ban from all women’s events.

Jelena Dokic won the U.S. Open junior tournament last year and turned professional in January.

Her first-round match Tuesday against Rita Grande of Italy was suspended because of rain with the Australian leading the third set 2-1. When play resumed Wednesday, Grande rallied to win, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7.

Witnesses said Dokic, who is of Serbian heritage and lives in Australia, also shouted insults in apparent reference to NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia.

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Pete Sampras moved closer to regaining the No. 1 ranking, getting help from losses by No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov and No. 2 Patrick Rafter.

Sampras, ranked No. 3, defeated Todd Woodbridge, 6-4, 6-7 (10-8), 6-4, in the second round in the Queen’s Club tournament in London.

Kafelnikov lost, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, to Sargis Sargsian, an Armenian ranked 74th, and has failed to win his first match in seven of his last 10 tournaments.

Meanwhile, in Halle, Germany, the top-seeded Rafter blew five match points during a 36-point tiebreaker and Jan Siemerink went on to upset the Australian, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (19-17), in the second round of the Gerry Weber Open.

That means Sampras most likely will ascend to the top ranking with a victory in his next match, against Australian qualifier Wayne Arthurs.