Jewish tennis star abused by father
Father of Evgenia Linetskaya, ranked 54th best tennis player in the world, has been told by the World Tennis Association to keep off its courts for two years; cases harms prospects of Linetskaya immigration to Israel
The tennis world was shocked 10 years ago by reports that the father of Serbian tennis player Yelena Dokic, one of the most promising players, physically beat his daughter after she lost her matches.
Mary Pierce: Another abused tennis star (Photo: AP)
At the end of August it became clear that Dokic was not alone. The Los Angeles Times has published a story about Russian Jewish tennis star Evgenia Linetskaya, 18, who was hospitalized in California, after her father, Simon Linetskaya, 49, beat her and caused her to suffer cuts to the back of her head and neck.
This week, the World Tennis Association decided to keep the abusive father away from its courts for two years, starting from January 1, 2006.
Linetskaya, a professor of mathematics with a black belt in karate, claimed during police questioning that the dispute started after Evgenia asked to drive their car. Police say however that the argument was based on the awards won by the young tennis player.
The sentence is heavier than the punishment received by Dokic's father, who was kept away for six months.
Over the past 10 years, similar incidents were reported about the father of the famous French tennis player, Mary Pierce.
This latest abuse case has caused steps by Linetskaya to move to Israel to almost completely cease - a move which would have significantly strengthened Israel's women's tennis prospects, as well as that of the national team.
Linetskaya, who plays with a Star of David necklace around her neck, who had been ranked 35 in the world, dropped to 54 after her hospitalization and subsequent arrival at contests with heavy security.
