We’ve heard of crazy parents in sports doing some wild things, but this may top the list. Dutch tennis player Elise Tamaela (pictured) says she was assaulted by Mihai Barbat, the father of another tennis player, Karen Barbat.
Tamaela was supporting countrywoman Danielle Harmsen who was playing Karen Barbat (a Danish player) in a qualifying match in Germany. Karen Barbat told a Danish newspaper that Harmsen’s supporters were being rowdy and she asked them to quiet down a bit. She says one of the fans provoked her father who responded with a few punches.
The punches to Tamaela’s temple reportedly were enough to knock her unconscious for a few minutes. Her brother says they went to a police station to file a report and then the hospital for treatment.
The match ended after the alleged assault and Harmsen won by default. Karen Barbat also defaulted her doubles match. Sadly, Tamaela had to default her match as well.
SB Nation says that Mihai Barbat has a long history of questionable behavior around the courts which should not come as a surprise.
Why does it seem like tennis parents are some of the worst? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Just read this and this.
Thanks to Sports Grid and SB Nation for the story
