Belgrade - Police have arrested the father of the Serbian-born tennis star Jelena Dokic after finding weapons in his home in a search ordered over his threats to the Australian ambassador, Belgrade press said Thursday.

Jelena's father Damir, a former boxer, truck and taxi driver, was detained late Wednesday when police, reacting to his threats, searched his vineyard ranch 80 kilometres west of Belgrade and found illegal weapons and explosives.

Enraged by an interview Jelena had with an Australian magazine, Damir told a local newspaper he would kill the Australian ambassador unless authorities plug the interview before it is published, the daily Blic said.

He was found to own several legal rifles and a pistol, but also two bombs and other illegal ordnance. Now he faces criminal charges.

Jelena told the latest edition of the Sport&Style magazine how Damir physically and mentally abused her throughout her career until she decided to flee and sever all contact with him several years ago.

Dokic represented Australia at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, but later returned to Belgrade under Damir's orders to play for Serbia, before eventually again settling in her adopted country.

The 2000 Wimbledon semi-finalist was world number four in 2002 before she faded from top tennis due to family trouble and a subsequent depression.

Now 26, she is struggling in a comeback bid, though in January she delighted her adopted nation by reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on a wild-card invitation. (dpa)