Blessings usually come in less painful disguises than a headbutt to the face.

But an altercation with John Tomic has turned out to be one of the best things to happen to Thomas Drouet.

“Today I can say thank you to John,” Frenchman Drouet said after helping Marion Bartoli to the Wimbledon women’s singles title on Saturday.

The former hitting partner of Bernard Tomic capped an eventful two months as sat in Bartoli’s support box to watch her claim a first grand slam title.

In a strange twist of fate, Drouet only began working with Bartoli as a hitting partner and coach five weeks ago after severing ties with the Tomic camp following an incident during the Madrid Masters.

Drouet was left with a broken nose and neck injuries after an altercation with Bernard’s father and coach on May 4.

John Tomic was charged with assault and will appear in a Madrid criminal court on July 22 after Drouet revealed the case has been brought forward from October.

John Tomic denies assault, saying he acted in self defence.

After the incident a jobless Drouet picked himself up and approached Bartoli’s father and long-time coach Walter about working with the 28-year-old.

He teamed up with her for the French Open last month and can hardly believe how it’s all worked out.

“I went from down to up, I can say it like this,” Drouet said.

“Three months ago I was lying down on the floor with a broken nose and unconscious.

“I lost my job and lost many things but I fight, I didn’t want to give up.

“Now a month after (starting work with Bartoli) she is with the trophy in Wimbledon. That’s amazing.”

John Tomic was banned from attending Wimbledon as a coach or spectator and while Drouet did not speak with Bernard at the All England Club he was happy to see him playing well and reach the fourth round.

“He played very well here without his father … if he can play good like this, it’s very good for him,” said Drouet who helped Tomic to his first ATP title in Sydney in January.