15-05-2025
Fans congratulate Jelena Dokic after Aussie tennis hero shares amazing news
Fans are sending congratulations to Jelena Dokic after the Australian tennis favourite was recognised this week for her groundbreaking documentary about the abuse she suffered at the hands of father Damir. Dokic's documentary 'Unbreakable', which was adapted from her 2017 memoir of the same name, aired in cinemas late last year and shocked the country with some of its awful revelations.
It was shown on national TV in January, and shone a spotlight on the situation to a wider audience. Fans were blown away by Dokic's bravery and courage to overcome the horrific abuse and become the person she is today.
And she revealed this week it had won 'Feature Documentary Production of the Year' at the annual Screen Producer Awards. "Thank you for the honour and recognition," Dokic wrote on social media with a photo holding her award.
She thanked Screen Australia and Documentary Australia for the honour, as well as In Films Sydney and Roadshow for helping her get the doco off the ground. She made special mention of journalist Jessica Halloran, her management company IMG and agent David.
"Without you all this would never have happened," she wrote. "You all believed in my story and bringing it to screen and you all made it happen. Thank you so much for the belief and the incredible hard work behind the scenes. We did it."
Fans flooded the post with messages of congratulations and praise. Shaynna Blaze wrote: "So deserved - huge congratulations." Mark Philippoussis posted a love heart emoji, while another person commented: "Well done Jelena, you so deserve this and every wonderful moment that comes your way. You are a truly amazing individual."
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Dokic reached World No.4 early in her career and looked set to conquer the tennis world, but she was doing it all in spite of physical and mental abuse from father and coach Damir. One of the most shocking incidents the doco revealed was when Dokic was knocked unconscious when Damir kicked her in the head after a loss.
'I remember he was so mad that he goes into the bathroom with me, locks the door, and he beat the crap out of me,' Jelena said. 'He slammed my head against the wall multiple times. He was kicking me. My shins were so bruised, I couldn't walk. He actually punches me in the head. And then I went unconscious for a little bit. He also stepped on my head as well.'
Dokic is now estranged from Damir and has spoken to him for 10 years. The doco also shone a light on Jelena's heartache at having to turn her back on Australia and represent Yugoslavia at the demand of her father.
The Australian public didn't understand at the time that Jelena didn't want to change her allegiances, and booed her at the Australian Open. Dokic said she feared for what her father might do if she went against his orders.
"In 2001 when I had to switch from playing from Australia to Yugoslavia within 24 hours of walking on Rod Laver Arena. I was literally between two fires," she said. "My father here, if I didn't go and say it in a media conference that was called on suddenly, when I came back to the hotel room, who knows, probably wouldn't have survived that beating. Or here, I had the media, sponsors, public who were going to hammer me like they did. So what do you do?
"So of course, I did that. 24 hours later, you walk out and you are on Rod Laver Arena, 15,000 people booing you, everyone writing that you're a traitor, and you're a 17-year-old who loves Australia so much. I loved representing this country. I come from a different culture. I was born in a different country, but I came here when I was 11. I absolutely loved Australia."
Dokic switched her allegiance back to Australia in 2005, but said the Australian public's perception of her was "never the same". She went on to achieve a 14-3 record in Fed Cup and produced many famous victories for Australia.
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