The father of young Australian Brydan Klein says that his son should not be excluded from competing in the Australian Open wildcard playoffs. Verne Klein tells WAtoday.com.au that Tennis Australia’s Todd Woodbridge has bowed to the negative media that his son received after he was sanctioned for racially abusing a South African foe more than a year ago, and for being fined for unsportsmanlike behavior at an event in Kalgoorlie last month.
Klein, the 2007 Australian Open boys' singles champion, as well as Nick Lindahl and Dayne Kelly, have been told they cannot play in the December 17-19 playoff.
"Brydan has played a total of 39 tournaments this year, two Grand Slams, 13 at ATP level and 14 at futures level, Verne Klein said "A total of 111 matches with no incidents. He has also played in charity and exhibition matches, donated time and money to various causes, and hit with squad juniors. In Kalgoorlie he spent an afternoon at a local school working with Aboriginal children. He's a really nice kid and he's really well adjusted. I mean people that know him and that have met him think he's a really nice kid. He doesn't go out and drink, he's not a wild party animal.”—Matthew Cronin