As she cheered for friend Danielle Harmsen, Dutch tennis player Elise Tamaela was assaulted by Mihai Barbat, (father of Harmsen’s opponent, Karen Barbat) at a challenger tournament in Versmold, Germany.
Elise Tamaela-Mihai Barbat Incident Detailed By German, Dutch, And Danish Sources
As the dust settles from the scuffle outside that clay court in Versmold, reports from Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark slowly shine more light on Dane Mihai Barbat’s assault of Dutch tennis player Elise Tamaela.
After previously acknowledging the incident in an email to SB Nation, tournament officials of the Reinert Open in Versmold issued a press release about Karen Barbat’s disqualification late Tuesday night, confirming several previously reported details regarding the assault.
Read Article >Elise Tamaela Recovers From Mihai Barbat’s Physical And Verbal Assault In German Hospital
As assailant Mihai Barbat and daughter Karen flee toward the Danish boarder, beaten Dutch tennis player Elise Tamaela remains in a hospital in Germany, recovering from the concussion and facial swelling she suffered as a result of the attack Monday in Versmold.
Tamaela’s mother, Corrie, recounted the racial epithets that Barbat directed at her daughter’s skin color before he directed his aim at her head. She told Omroep Gelderland (a Dutch radio network) that he had called her daughter “black chickie” as their conflict escalated.
Read Article >Elise Tamaela Assault Admitted, Mihai Barbat And Daughter Flee To Danish Border
After assaulting Dutch tennis player Elise Tamaela at a challenger tournament in Versmold, Germany on Monday, Mihai Barbat (with his daughter Karen in tow) decided his best move was to run from the scene of the crime as soon as possible.
Though she may be evading German authorities as they flee in their car from Versmold to the Danish-German border, 19-year-old Danish tennis player Karen Barbat feels little need to avoid the media, or to deny that the assault occurred.
Read Article >Dutch Player Elise Tamaela Assaulted By Rival’s Father At Challenger In Germany
It’s not often that a qualifying match at a $25,000 challenger becomes newsworthy, but shocking events Monday in Versmold, Germany certainly deserve attention.
According to accounts from witnesses, 27-year-old Dutch player Elise Tamaela was attacked by Mihai Barbat as she cheered on compatriot Danielle Harmsen, the opponent of Barbat’s daughter, Karen Barbat.
German player Scarlett Werner, who had been set to play doubles with Tamaela, was the first to report the incident, posting on her Facebook page (translated from German):
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