Belgrade - A Serbian court on Thursday sentenced the father of Serbian-born tennis star Jelena Dokic to 15 months in prison for threats against the Australian ambassador and illegal possession of weapons, local media reported.

Dokic's father, Damir, a former boxer and truck and taxi driver, was arrested last month 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 his daughter gave to an Australian magazine - in which she recounted how her father physically and mentally abused her throughout her career - the elder Dokic told a local newspaper he would kill the Australian ambassador.

Dokic's lawyer said they will appeal the sentence.

Jelena Dokic represented Australia at the Olympics in 2000, but later, under Damir's orders, returned to play for Serbia. She eventually cut off all ties with her family and settled in her adopted country.

She was world No. 4 in 2002 before fading from top tennis due to family troubles. Jelena made a comeback earlier this year when reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on a wild-card invitation.(dpa)