Melbourne - Reigning Australian Open junior champion Bernard Tomic faces pressure to keep his family in check after an on-court incident which resulted in an apology on Saturday from his over- wrought father.

John Tomic was hammered in the local press after yanking his son off court during a minor event near Perth earlier this month, complaining that foot faults against an opponent were not being called.

The incident provoked an International Tennis Federation Investigation and could result in the youngster not being able to play in the Australia open, which start on January
19.

It also brought back nightmares of the template for poor tennis parents, Serbian bad dad Damir Dokic, now estranged from his daughter Jelena.

"I am a father who wants the best in the world for my children," said the elder Tomic. "I realize that my actions have actually hurt my son, that hurts me deeply and I want to correct the situation which is why I am fronting here to apologise without reservation.

"I was wrong. All I want is for Bernard to be the best he can be as a person and as a tennis player representing the things he loves dearly, his family and his sport and his country."

Tomic serves as Australia's prodigy-in waiting, with no player from the former tennis power now ranked in the men's Top 50 (Lleyton Hewitt has dropped to 67th).

Tennis Australia officials say that in the worst case, the ITF probe could lead to Tomic being suspended from playing the Open.

The 16-year-old Balkan-born player, who quit school at ten to concentrate on tennis, is entered in next week's playoff for an open wild card.

"John is aware that if he gets out of line and does something not appropriate that there will be the next step for us and that could range anything from the withdrawal of funding to sanctioning the participation of an event," said Open tournament director Craig Tiley.

"Then if it continues to even harsher discipline." (dpa)