Tomic’s dad to be barred from Australian Open

The father and coach of Australian tennis player Bernard Tomic, Australian John Tomic leaves the courthouse of Madrid after his trial on July 22, 2013. Tennis player Thomas Drouet of Monaco, training partner of Bernard Tomic was allegedly headbutted by John Tomic during an altercation on May 4, 2013 in Madrid. The verdict will be known in 15-30 days. AFP

MELBOURNE — Bernard Tomic’s father and coach John Tomic will be banned from the Australian Open in January following his assault conviction.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told local media in comments published Wednesday that John Tomic would not be allowed into Melbourne Park in any official capacity or as a spectator.

He was arrested in Madrid in May after allegedly head-butting Bernard’s hitting partner Thomas Drouet and is serving a 12-month suspension by the ATP that expires in May. In September, Tomic was convicted by a Spanish court of assault and given a suspended eight-month jail sentence.

Tiley says “the four Grand Slam tournaments have an agreement with the ATP to follow and support that organization’s decision in situations like this.”