‘I’m extremely lucky to be here’: Jelena Dokic on childhood dreams and talking tennis

Looking back on her Rome triumph, Dokic is proud that she was able to show her tennis ability despite everything that was happening to her, abuse she detailed openly and heartbreakingly in two books and most recently in a documentary, Unbreakable, released in 2024. Dokic doesn’t blame anyone for her plight; instead, she says she was fortunate, a victim who survived and emerged stronger, able to help others.

“I’m extremely lucky to be here,” she says. “Many are not, and many you will never hear about … have never maybe been able to fulfil their dream and their talent. If you look at all the champions, grand slam champions, No 1s in the world in any sport, they have had incredible [family] support. You can’t go without that, and you can’t even get close to the top if you don’t have that.

“I wanted to show parents, to show coaches, and to show the world in general, there was this narrative for a very long time that if you’re really, really tough on your kid, and actually if you abuse them, then that creates champions. But it is such a wrong narrative.”

Jelena Dokic reacts during a tennis match in 2009. Photograph: Vadim Ghirdă/AP

After a lifetime of struggle, Dokic has found her calling. A respected on-court tennis interviewer and pundit for Australian TV, she is also a campaigner for victims of domestic abuse. Content in her own skin, she has never been happier.

“I found so much strength in actually speaking up, in being an advocate, in not being ashamed of your life and what you go through,” she says. “I think owning your story and being authentic about it, yeah, it’s brought happiness to me. It’s actually saved my life.

“I say the day that my book came out was the best day of my life by far, and that’s a big statement, because yes, I’ve had the lows, but I’ve also had incredible highs in my life, personally and professionally. But nothing will ever compare to that, the freedom that comes with being open about your story, about who you are, about what you’ve gone through. It’s life-saving.”

Jelena Dokic interviews Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal during the 2026 Australian Open. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Dokic, 43, has a new partner and though they don’t plan to start a family, children could yet be in her future.

“I still am open to adoption in a couple of years, potentially, absolutely,” she says. “It’s always been kind of on my mind. I think I can give so much love to a kid that will potentially go through a tough time, be an orphan, maybe not have that love and support. I’ve always felt like I can give a lot of that, and I love kids, so I’m still open to that idea, absolutely.”