Brydan Klein, Nick Lindahl and Dayne Kelly barred from Australian Open wildcard playoff

Serial offender Brydan Klein is one of three players Tennis Australia banned from the Australian Open wildcard playoffs. Source: Herald Sun

The 2007 Australian Open boys' singles champion Brydan Klein, 2006 runner-up Nick Lindahl and Victorian Dayne Kelly have been told they will not contest the December 17-19 playoff.

The ban means they will have to take their chances in Open qualifying - and the decision might also have triggered the defection of Lindahl to Sweden.

In an intriguing twist, Lindahl is listed on the ATP World Tour website as a Swedish player.

The New South Welshman was born in Sweden but has lived in Australia since he was three.

TA director of men's tennis Todd Woodbridge said Klein, Kelly and Lindahl had overstepped the mark once too often.

"This action has been taken following reports of numerous accounts of unacceptable behaviour at tournaments both locally and internationally over the past few months," Woodbridge said.

"All players are expected to abide by Tennis Australia's code of ethics and behaviour.

"The opportunity to participate in the Australian Open playoff is a privilege, not a right.

"This decision will send a clear message to all Australian players that breaching this code will not be supported by Tennis Australia through the granting of wildcards or other financial support."

Klein, 20, was suspended for six months last year for calling a South African opponent a "kaffir" and allegedly spitting at his coach and another player during a tournament in Eastbourne, England.

TA immediately cut funding grants.

Despite saying he was remorseful, the Perth baseliner stumbled into more trouble in Wellington, New Zealand, a fortnight ago.

In losing to German Sebastian Rieschick, 211th-ranked Klein reportedly threw his racquet repeatedly, swore and had a running verbal battle with courtside photographers.

Lindahl, 22, has earned a similar reputation to Klein, having once infamously bounced a racquet at Homebush over the court fence and into the lap of a leading administrator.

He was good enough last year to roll Bernard Tomic in the final of the wildcard playoff, only to suffer a shoulder injury in the first round of the Open.