Bernard Tomic will play at the French Open despite his off-court troubles if only to keep some momentum going for the grass-court season ahead, Tennis Australia's Todd Woodbridge said Wednesday.

Tomic's father John faced a charge of causing criminal injury in a Madrid court earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his son's hitting partner. Tomic senior says he acted in self-defense and the court hearing has been suspended until October.

With a best showing of one second-round appearance last year, the slow Roland Garros clay courts would hardly be ranked as Tomic's favorite surface but Woodbridge said the 20-year-old would play despite withdrawing from last week's Rome Masters.

"From the communication I've had with his father, he will be in Paris and playing," Woodbridge, TA's Professional Tennis Manager, told reporters at Melbourne Park.

"I think it's very important that he plays there but whether he has a good result or not is probably unlikely given the surface and the circumstances.

"But he needs to keep playing coming into the grass-court season - that's where he's played some great tennis before and if you don't get that little bit of match play, it's hard to get the momentum going."

Although John Tomic has been suspended from ATP events pending the court case, Woodbridge said he remained the world No.59's coach.

"He may not be on site but he's still going to be giving the instructions," Woodbridge said.

Woodbridge said he thought Tomic, whose best Grand Slam singles performance was a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon in 2011, would be able to handle being in the public spotlight despite the recent troubles.

The French Open starts on Sunday and runs through until June 9.

Reuters - Global Times