Jelena Dokic opened up about her struggles with body shaming and the intense hatred she faced on social media, revealing the lasting impact of years of trauma and domestic abuse. She has been the target of online trolls on multiple occasions, most notably during her stint as a commentator at the 2023 Australian Open.

Jelena Dokic first rose to prominence in 1999, famously defeating then-No. 1 Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon. She went on to reach the semifinals of the same tournament in 2000, though she was unable to replicate that success in subsequent years. Nevertheless, Dokic enjoyed several strong runs at tour-level events before ultimately retiring in 2014.

Beneath the surface of her tennis career, Jelena Dokic endured years of emotional and physical abuse from her father, severe bullying, and mental health struggles that even led to suicide attempts. During her commentary stints at the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open, fans noticed significant changes in her demeanor, prompting a wave of harsh criticism and hateful comments on her social media.

In response to the backlash, Dokic took to social media to address the criticism, calling out trolls who failed to seek the truth behind her story. In a recent interview with Australian Story, the 42-year-old highlighted that women have endured abuse for decades, often remaining silent. By speaking out, she hopes to empower others to share their experiences and break the cycle of fear and silence.

“Online trolling and bullying, so many of us get it, and body shaming as well. It was similar to abuse and domestic violence and mental health and not talking about it in our society for such a long time. Well, that’s not right. As someone that’s in the public eye or has a platform, it comes with the territory. Why should it come with the territory? Maybe we’re talking about it that way because we’ve accepted it for too long.”

“We’re actually out here not doing anything wrong. We’re the ones getting abused, and we’re always shoving it under the rug. So I did it. I called it. It was amazing. Maybe if I do it, someone else will then have the courage to do it too. The way that you take power away from any kind of, I say, bad thing in the world, bullies, trolls, violence, abuse, anything, is by speaking up. As soon as we speak up, we take that power away from them,” Dokic said.

Jelena Dokic once revealed that she doesn’t hate her father Damir Dokic despite years of abuse

Jelena Dokic’s relationship with her father, Damir Dokic, was deeply troubled, particularly during her junior years and early rise on the professional tour. Their bond was marked by abuse and mistreatment, leaving lasting scars. Damir passed away in March 2025 after battling cancer. In a candid conversation with Australian Story’s Leigh Sales, Jelena reflected on the way her father had treated her, noting that he never expressed remorse for his actions. While she stated that she would not forgive him, she also made it clear that she would not harbor hatred toward him.

“I was kicked and punched in the head so hard it left me unconscious. It’s so drilled in you that you are just not worthy of anything. I tried to reconcile with my father two or three times. It wasn’t possible. It’s hard when someone’s not even a little bit sorry or has any remorse and in fact, he said he would do it all again.”

After ending her father’s role as her coach, Jelena Dokic was guided by mentors including Borna Bikic, Nikola Pilić, and Craig Miller.