Bernard Tomic could be better off if alleged violent conduct by his father and coach John prompts an end to their tennis partnership, says former Davis Cup team mentor Wally Masur.
Tennis Australia (TA) on Monday confirmed Tomic’s father John was involved in an incident with his son’s training partner.
He was reportedly arrested for allegedly striking Frenchman Thomas Drouet and was believed to be facing court in Madrid on Monday.
Drouet was understood to have been knocked unconscious and suffered a broken nose.
Masur said history had proven the perils of parents doubling up as coaches.
“The parent-coach dynamic is a dangerous one. There are so many precedents that have proven it’s just not healthy,” Masur told AAP on Monday.
“If you look back at players like Andrea Jaeger, Jennifer Capriati, Jelena Dokic – the parent-coach dynamic is really a nexus that needs to be broken at a young age.
“John has been a real constant in Bernie’s life so it’s not going to be as easy as saying ‘right we have to cut ties’.
“Whatever has transpired, as unfortunate as it sounds, maybe this will be a catalyst for Bernie to just take a step back and say to his dad ‘how are we going to do this best?'”
Masur urged 20-year-old Tomic to make more use of Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter as a mentor.
“Let’s put Bernie in someone’s hands that he trusts and respects and we’ll go from there,” he said.
Former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle said, if the reports were correct, it would be the best thing for Tomic if the ATP banned his father from the tour.
He said after several previous controversies it was time both the ATP and ITF took a stand.
“It needs to happen,” Stolle told AAP on Monday.
“There’s been too many occasions where things haven’t been addressed.
“The ATP will no doubt take a stand on it and the ITF will follow too for the grand slams.
“If the ATP make it so that his dad can’t really get in the mix any more then that would be the best thing.”
Todd Woodbridge, the head of men’s tennis for TA, said TA were still trying to confirm the details.
“We’re still trying to ascertain if or what charges have been laid,” Woodbridge told 3AW radio on Monday.
“What’s important for us at Tennis Australia is that this allegation is thrown toward John, his dad, and not to Bernard.”
Tennis journalist Matt Cronin said he understood the tension started in Monte Carlo last week when Drouet intervened after John Tomic remonstrated heatedly with Bernard during a public practice session.
The dispute between Drouet and John continued when they arrived in Madrid and soon escalated.
“He broke his nose with a head-butt and knocked him out cold for 20 minutes,” Cronin told Fox Sports.
Cronin said the ATP had officially confirmed there was an incident and that they were investigating it.
Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic continued his poor start to the European clay court season as he lost 6-3 6-2 to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the first round of the Madrid Masters.
It was third first-round exit this year after a bright start to 2013, winning the Sydney International in January.