‘Complicated grief' – Former tennis star reveals abusive dad has died at 67 after ‘difficult and painful relationship'

The Irish Sun

21-05-2025

FORMER tennis star Jelena Dokic has revealed that her father Damir has died aged 67.
Dokic, 42, detailed the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of her dad in her 2017 autobiography entitled "Unbreakable".
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Jelena Dokic is a regular pundit on Aussie tennis
Credit: Getty
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The 42-year-old has posted this picture of herself with her late father
Credit: INSTAGRAM @dokic_jelena
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Damir Dokic coached Jelena during her tennis career
Credit: AFP - Getty
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Dokic reached a career high world No4 in 2002
Credit: Getty
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Dokic was estranged from Damir for the last 10 years of his life.
Upon her dad's passing, the Aussie former No4 as opened up on her complex emotions.
Alongside a picture of herself with Damir as a child, Dokic wrote on Instagram: "My father passed away in the late hours on 16.05.2025.
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"As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history.
"Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from.
"The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief."
Dokic moved to Australia from the former Yugoslavia alongside hr family aged 11.
Most read in Tennis
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Dokic, pictured in 1999, was coached by her father Damir
Credit: Rex Features
A prodigious tennis talent, Dokic reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2000 and peaked at world No4 two years later.
Damir's abuse left Dokic feeling "broken inside" - with the tennis legend revealing that the day after a defeat to Martina Hingis she was left with "not an inch of skin that wasn't bruised".
Jelena Dokic documentary: Tennis ace reveals horrific abuse by her father - 'There wasn't an inch of skin not bruised'
Expanding on Damir's death, Dokic added: "It's an end of a chapter and life as I know it.
"There are lots of conflicting and complex emotions and feelings for me.
"For the end of this chapter, I choose to focus on a good memory like this picture.
"And as always and especially important to who I am as a person and what I want to stand for which is respect, grace, kindness, dignity and empathy, I will and want to be that person in this situation too."
Dokic retired from tennis in 2014 and has since become a prominent voice in the sport in Australia.
During a conversation with
Finishing her statement on Instagram, Dokic showed incredible grace as she concluded: For now, I will leave it there.
"Please respect mine and the rest of my family's privacy at this time.
"Thank you to so many of you for checking in on me over the last few days and for being here for me while I navigate this difficult and complicated situation.
"And my final words. RIP."
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
Emotional abuse
- Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
Threats and intimidation
- Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
Physical abuse
- This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
Sexual abuse
- Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
on
0808 2000 247
for free at any time, day or night
Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or
on
0182 3334 244
Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring
on
0800 999 5428
If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.