(London) The father of Serbian tennis star Jelena Dokic says he would kill himself if his daughter "became a lesbian."

In a tirade against lesbian tennis players, Damir Dokic said Monday that  "More than 40 per cent of women in world tennis are lesbians. I couldn't stand it if Jelena turned out to be one of them. I'd kill myself."

A spokesperson for the Lawn Tennis Association refused to condemn the elder Dokic's views saying only "We do not want to get involved with what Mr Dokic has said."

Jelena, who now lives in England, has also remained silent.

Damir Dokic, first gained notoriety in 1999 when he was cited for drunk and disorderly conduct after an incident in Birmingham.

Two years ago he was banned from Wimbledon after shouting at spectators in a drunken rage and breaking a cameraman's mobile phone.

Dokic was then thrown out of the US Open after another tantrum and banned from the Tour for six months.