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Dokic accused of abandoning family

May 09, 2003 13:45 IST
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The father of tennis player Jelena Dokic says he never wants to see his daughter again after their recent break-up, according to a report in Friday's Sydney Morning Herald.

The newspaper quotes Damir Dokic of accusing his daughter of abandoning her family for Brazilian Formula One racing driver Enrique Bernoldi.

"I never want to see (Jelena) again," Damir said. "She left us."

Damir's comments came just a day after Jelena told reporters at the German Open that she was struggling to adapt to life without the influence of her father. She lost in Berlin to Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova.

Jelena, ranked 11 in the world, reportedly banned her father from attending her matches after a row over her relationship with Bernoldi. The 20-year-old also dumped her father as coach for Swiss Heinz Gunthardt.

The family feud is just the latest brush with controversy for the Dokic family.

Damir has been expelled from both the Wimbledon and U.S. Open tournaments and once accused Australian Open officials of rigging the draw to ruin his daughter's chances of winning.

The family left Australia more than two years ago for their native Yugoslavia but Jelena is now reportedly considering playing for her adopted country at next year's Athens Olympics.

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Source: REUTERS
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