Tomic’s Madrid Trial Is Postponed To October

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 14th May 2013

Sony Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Florida

Tomic’s Madrid Trial Is Postponed To October

epa03638300 Bernard Tomic of Australia returns a shot to Andy Murray of Great Britain during their match at the Sony Open tennis tournament in Miami, Florida, USA, 23 March 2013. The tournament runs through 31 March. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

John Tomic is reportedly free to leave Spain after his Madrid trial for assaulting his son Bernard’s hitting partner was postponed – but the tennis bad dad is still expected back to face the bench in October. That was the ruling of a Spanish judge, who re-scheduled the legal proceedings after alleged victim Thomas Drouet of France, proved unable to travel for this week’s original day in court.

The question as to what the senior Tomic might do to pass the time remains open, with his credentials for ATP events now suspended along with those for the upcoming French Open with Wimbledon expected to follow suit. The 52nd-ranked Bernard Tomic will take a ranking hit as a result of his father’s actions after withdrawing from this week’s mandatory Masters 1000 in Rome.

Drouet was allegedly attacked by John Tomic at the Madrid Masters in a sidewalk incident which left the Frenchman with a broken nose and neck injuries. John Tomic pleads self-defense, according to his lawyers.

“Since the plaintiff has not dropped the proceedings, the hearing is postponed for reasons of court scheduling until October,” the Madrid court said in a statement. The senior Tomic faces a possible sentence of between three months and three years in prison.