14 May 2013

John Tomic trial delayed

7:46 am on 14 May 2013

A Spanish court has postponed to October the trial of John Tomic, father of Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic, for allegedly assaulting his son's training partner.

The Madrid court said the trial scheduled for tomorrow was postponed because the plaintiff, Frenchman Thomas Drouet, could not travel to Spain to attend.

Earlier this month Drouet was left with a broken nose after a brawl outside a hotel where players in the Madrid Masters were playing.

John Tomic denies assault and says he struck in self-defence.

If found guilty he could be sentenced to between three months and three years in prison.

Bernard Tomic, the world number 53, has made a poor start to this year's European clay court season and lost in straight sets to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the first round of the Madrid Masters.

He pulled out of the Rome Masters taking place this week.