A former world No. 4, now at 40 years of age, is a prominent member of Tennis Australia’s commentary team. However, she had to overcome her struggles with depression and family violence during her playing career. In a recent podcast interview, Jelena Dokic, who was born in Croatia and later played for Australia, disclosed the abuse she endured at the hands of her father during her tennis days.
The former tennis star unveiled a harrowing incident where her father, Damir Dokic, told her not to return to the hotel room after losing in the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2000 to American player Lindsay Davenport.
Recounting the shocking incident, Dokic who was just 17 at the time, shared, “I’m a Wimbledon semifinalist, sitting in tears in the middle of the players’ room…my father, who says I’m a disgrace and shame to him and the family because I lost…”
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She further reveals, “I wasn’t allowed to go back to the hotel…told to sleep on the street because I wasn’t coming back.” Desperate, she hid in a corner of the players’ room overnight until cleaners discovered her in the wee hours. After this incident, she could never reach the semifinal of a Grand Slam singles event, let alone win it.
In her book ‘Unbreakable,’ Dokic exposes her traumatic journey, battling suicidal thoughts and depression. Despite the hardships, she now stands as a transformed individual. This compelling story of Jelena Dokic emphasizes the need for protective measures against parental abuse in sports.
Jelena Dokic speaks out against domestic tennis abuse
Jelena Dokic addressed the alarming issue of parental abuse in tennis following a distressing video depicting a 14-year-old player assaulted by her father. Expressing her deep concern, Dokic highlighted the broader problem of abuse within the sport, drawing on her own experiences. She called upon the tennis world to take immediate action, emphasizing the need to foster a safer environment for young athletes.
Dokic highlighted the harsh realities often hidden behind closed doors, saying, “You think this is brutal? It is, but it’s a normal day for a lot of us that have been or are abused, especially as children.” Urging a collective effort, she made an appeal to the tennis community at large, “Come on everyone, media, social media, players, ex-players, journalists … please share this, talk about this, post it, repost it.”
Još jedno brutalno nasilje oca nad ćerkom. Dobio sam informaciju da je u pitanju porodica koja dolazi iz Kine. Podnećemo krivičnu prijavu i protiv ovog monstruma. pic.twitter.com/CrU7g0JcwU
— Igor Jurić (@lojzija) October 28, 2022
In her heartfelt plea, Dokic stressed the vital role of awareness in safeguarding vulnerable individuals, including junior players, who, like her, have experienced domestic abuse. Dokic was a tennis prodigy herself in her junior playing days. In 1999, at just 16, she stunned the tennis world by defeating world No. 1 Martina Hingis at Wimbledon as a qualifier.
Despite rising through the rankings, off-court challenges, including a bitter and abusive relationship with her father and coach Damir Dokic, impacted her career. The former world no. 4 career included notable Slam performances, with a Wimbledon semifinal in 2000, a French Open, and an Australian Open quarterfinal in 2002 and 2009. She faced personal and professional struggles, retiring in 2014 without winning a single major title.