GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: Sickening moment tennis dad beats and kicks his 14-year-old daughter on the court – as stars of the sport voice their horror and call on grand slam champion Novak Djokovic to intervene
- A Chinese man has been arrested and charged in Belgrade, Serbia for the attack
- Serbian media reports the man tried to defend himself by saying the actions were acceptable in China where he had come from prior to the assault
- Tennis players including two former world No.1s have condemned the attack
- Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has been asked to become involved
- Click here for all your latest international sports news at Daily Mail Australia
A host of past and present tennis players have united in horror after a video emerged of a man brutally assaulting his 14-year-old daughter on a tennis court in Belgrade, Serbia.
The video has been shared by Croatian actor Igor Jurić, who condemned the man after he was seen striking the terrified girl and kicking her after she falls to the ground.
‘Another brutal violence by a father against his daughter. I received information that it was a family coming from China. We will file criminal charges against this monster as well,’ Juric wrote.
The vision prompted former doubles world No.1 Pam Shriver to ask Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic to intervene.
‘OMG we all need to report, and press charges against this kind of horrible abuse,’ she tweeted.
‘Let’s ask for @DjokerNole to help behind the scenes. We all need to work together to stop abuse. Igor thanks for doing your part,’ she wrote.
The video shows the man striking and kicking his 14-year-old daughter at a tennis court in Belgrade, Serbia
The situation escalates as the man pulls the girl to the ground and then kicks her in the stomach
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belgrade confirmed that officers from Palilula police station had identified and arrested a Chinese national believed to be the man in the video.
He was arrested on the tennis courts of SC Banjica and detained for 48 hours before he was brought to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to face the criminal complaint of domestic violence.
Serbian media has reported that the man attempted to justify his actions by saying his daughter refused to continue training on critical day.
He said it was not his intention to hurt her and he believes he acted correctly because such treatment is allowed in China, according to a statement made by the prosecutor.
Serbian champion Novak Djokovic has been asked to ‘work behind the scenes’ to help prevent parents assaulting children in tennis
Belarusian tennis player and former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka questioned how people could film the horrific actions without intervening.
‘I don’t know who this person is, but wtf is this?!? People filming for this long without intervening, absolute disgrace. And it happens so much, there has to be accountability. Please report who this person is if somebody knows,’ she tweeted.
Former Australian tennis player Rennae Stubbs was also shocked by the footage and said such incidents are too common in the sport.
‘Wow disgusting!!! Sadly this happens ALL THE TIME but we sadly don’t have it on film. Anyone who abuses their kids is just a POS,’ she tweeted.
Former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka from Belarus is one of many tennis players that have stepped forward to condemn the attack
Patrick Mouratoglou, the coach of Romanian former world No.1 Simona Halep, also condemned the attack.
‘This is absolutely unacceptable. Horrible. No other word,’ he posted.
‘We have to eradicate any kind of abuse on children whether they are physical or psychological.
‘It touches every sector of our civil society. Not only tennis. Let’s think how we can eradicate it in our sport.’
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