To be appalled at the way the young tennis player dismissed her dad from the court

[springydaffs]

Did anybody see it? She pointed at him and gestured for him to get off, like he was a stray dog.

I was absolutely appalled that she treated him this way and in public too. He meekly left. I would rather have a decent human being for a child than a brat tennis star. The Wimbledon presenters took it on the chin - regrettable but well, that's how it goes. No it doesn't imo.

I wouldn't get all bent out of shape about it. Seems a bit weird to me that it bothers you so much! Rest assured you don't need to champion her poory daddy...when he's living off her money! :)

What should she have done then?

I cannot believe you are so bothered by this. It is a thing between 2 adults from the same family, and none of anyone's business but theirs.

she was probably trying to focus on the game, to "get in the zone" bleugh!

what are the BBC going to do if anyone complains LOL, pay for family therapy

Bartoli isn't a young girl - she's 26/27.

If you search 'Marion Bartoli father' on YouTube you will find it.

Sorry can't link as I'm at work and YouTube is blocked :)

Just did that but can't find an actual video of the incident. The only link for 'Marion Bartoli father' leads to a video showing a headline of the incident from the Daily Mail. (ugh)

Her father is a lunatic, even by tennis parents standards. Would I like it if my child gestured in that way to me? No. But I hope that if he decides to go into tennis, I won't give up my job to become his coach and spend every living minute planning his career.

And in the context (in a middle of Grand Slam match, with a fair bit of distance between them and the prohibition on talking to her team) her gesture was fine.

I'm highly amused by the "I would have complained to the bbc if I'd seen it" comment.. actually made me chuckle thank you.

Gowkstorm it was a French sports programme clip that I saw it on... couldn't understand the commentators but the footage is there!

She's been qualifying for grand slams for the last 10 years, she's been runner up at Wimbledon, her earnings have no doubt paid her Dad for at least this long.
All family businesses have their disagreements, those of tennis players are just more public.

Standing up to your parents could be the psychological key to being a Wimbledon WINNER.

There's standing up to and there's contempt. Just like there is frustration but smashing your raquet into the ground 3 times gets you a big fine - it is penalised, not an acceptable expression of frustration.

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Looks perfectly reasonable to me.

I liked that too Jan

I see no contempt.

Why do you care? Are you related or something?

Just seen it, thanks. That was tame. She put her coach in his place. There's a reason why parents are banned from the female players' locker rooms.

New balls please! :o

She looks exasperated with her father's behaviour (whatever he was doing).

What was she supposed to do from the side of the tennis court? say (in French) "Oh, dear papa, please do quieten down or leave the court, there's a dear"

You are not being unreasonable to be appalled - that's just how you feel. I think your interpretation was wrong though.

No! that clip didn't show what I saw and what was aired on the BBC - she gestured with sharp gestures, a flicked hand, twice (stray dog, as I said). What she did on the clip from the link was forceful but sent the message without speaking, acceptable in the circumstances. anyways, horse well flogged here and wimbledon's on in 40 minutes, so I'm orf.

Best wishes

Beatrice Bartoli

at Beatrice

Marion Bartoli is my new Supergirl hero !