At Wimbledon, It’s Not All Okey-Dokic

Even the Daily Telegraph, a conservative newspaper, looked different Friday. Above the fold was a five-column picture of tennis father Damir Dokic, holding an English flag of St. George, a policeman on either side of Dokic.

The caption said, “Match point: Flag-flying Damir Dokic, wayward father of teenage star Jelena Dokic, receives a police escort at Wimbledon yesterday.”

Damir, a Serb now living in Australia, had been the focal point of an incident on the press balcony at the All England Club on Thursday. He appeared to be drunk and was raving about the Queen of England, the WTA and Bill Clinton.

Dokic made an obscene gesture and then threw the cell phone of a British television reporter onto the balcony, breaking it into three pieces.

He was taken away by police, detained but not charged.

Friday, the All England Club issued a statement, saying: “We will be monitoring the conduct of Mr. Dokic closely. Should this again fall below acceptable standards, it would lead to Mr. Dokic being banned from the grounds.”

The WTA, separately, said it was investigating the situation. When Dokic caused a disturbance at an event in Birmingham, England, last year, the tour put him on notice, saying if he caused any future problems, he would risk a longer ban from all women’s events.

In what was a tumultuous day, however, Dokic slipped a bit in prominence, once the tabloids got wind of allegations by player Alexandra Stevenson and her mother, Samantha Stevenson, of racism on the women’s tour.

The Evening Standard managed to localize the issue: “Elton inspired our race claims: Stevenson says pop star’s honesty led to Wimbledon tirade.”

That would be pop singer Elton John. Sir Elton John, around here.

“It’s because of Elton that Alexandra can’t keep quiet anymore,” Samantha told a group of reporters Thursday. “He said, ‘I’m no longer going to sit back and let things happen that shouldn’t happen.’ ”

The Stevensons accused French players Amelie Cocheteux and Anne-Gaelle Sidot of racial incidents at a tournament in Strasbourg, France, in May. Alexandra Stevenson said Cocheteux called her a “a piece-of- . . . black girl.” Cocheteux denied that charge in an interview with the French newspaper L’Equipe.

Samantha Stevenson also said Sidot had pushed her on the shoulder and pulled down her hat in a dispute over a practice court.

The WTA investigated both incidents and determined no disciplinary action was warranted.

Sidot, who met with the press after her 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 third-round loss to Tamarine Tanasurgarn, admitted she had pulled Samantha Stevenson’s hat but denied pushing her.

Sidot said she has never had a problem with any other players or coaches.

“Really, it’s the first time, but not only with me, but everybody,” Sidot said. “Maybe [Samantha Stevenson] doesn’t feel good in this world. She said if she knew it was like this, she will send Alexandra to school. Maybe it’s more [Samantha] who has a problem than us.”