BELGRADE, Serbia — The father of tennis player Jelena Dokic was detained in Serbia for allegedly threatening the Australian ambassador in Belgrade, police said today.

Damir Dokic was detained in his home in northern Serbia, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. He added that police searched Dokic's house in the mountain region of Fruska Gora.

Serbian daily Blic on Wednesday quoted Damir Dokic as saying he had called the embassy and threatened to "fire a rocket" on the car of the Australian ambassador to Serbia.

Dacic said police have an obligation to respond to any threats to foreign diplomats. He said Damir Dokic will be questioned by an investigative judge.

Dokic told Blic that he was angry over an interview his daughter gave to Australia's Sport&Style magazine in which she accused him of beating her. The 26-year-old Dokic, who is estranged from her father, told how she fled from her family in 2002 to escape the abuse.

Blic quoted him as saying that Jelena's testimony was a "continuation of an attack on me, with a clear idea to kill me."

But he added that "there is no child that was not beaten by parents — the same with Jelena."

Dokic, born in the former Yugoslavia, migrated to Sydney with her family as a child and represented Australia at the 2000 Olympics. She renounced her Australian ties in 2001 to move back to Serbia, then decided to begin competing for Australia again in 2006.

Dokic has won five WTA Tour titles and reached a career-high ranking of fourth in 2002. After struggling with her form and injuries over the years, Dokic reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January. She is ranked 74th.