'You believed in me professionally': Jelena Dokic thanks former Grand Slam winner who pushed her to become commentator

Former Australian player Jelena Dokic has a story that not many have shown the courage to share in the world of tennis. The 42-year-old received abuse from her father during her playing days, and because of that, suffered from mental health issues.

Dokic had an impressive career at the highest level. She registered her highest ranking, number four in the world, in 2002 and overall won six titles in her career. However, Dokic’s defining moment of her career came when she released the book titled ‘Unbreakable’. The book detailed her struggle in the playing days where her father constantly abused her. Her relationship was so strained with her father that when he passed away earlier this year in May, Dokic had very few words to explain her feelings for the man who caused her a lot of trouble in her life.

“My father passed away in the late hours on 16.05.2025,” she wrote in response to the news of her father passing away in a post on social media. “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. It’s an end of a chapter and life as I know it.”

In 2024, a documentary was made based on what Dokic revealed in the books. On Sunday, Dokic won the Logie Awards for the best Best Factual or Documentary Program. The news came as a big surprise for the 2000 Wimbledon semifinalist, who broke down in tears while giving a speech, lengthier than the allotted time. While explaining her feelings, Dokic stated that she was in ‘complete shock’.

Complete shock

“I know you said 30 seconds but I will need at least 30 to gather myself,” said Dokic. “I’m actually in shock. I didn’t think this was possible and I didn’t have a speech prepared. I want to say a massive thank you to every single person who voted, not just the fans, but the industry. And not because of me. But because the hard stories and the difficult topics need to be told to create awareness. This is something that we did not even talk about 10 years ago. Now we have it in books and on screen. This is not about winning. This is about a win for victims and survivors, especially of domestic violence and mental health. To every kid and person out there, I will say to every single girl and woman out there, never allow anyone to take your worth or happiness or smile away. Believe in your goals and dreams. I am standing here as someone who literally had that dream. I believed in it. I didn’t give up on it. If I can do it you can do it too.”

Dokic then went on to praise her Channel 9 co-host, Todd Woodbridge, and highlighted that the 54-year-old was the one who motivated her to become a tennis commentator, at a time when Dokic herself was not sure whether she was good enough to do that at the highest level.

“Lastly Todd Woodbridge, you’re my person,” said emotional Dokic. “I say that, and this makes me cry so much, because when I sat down at that table with you 11 years ago when I retired and you said to me that I can be a commentator and bring my story to life, I looked at you and I said to you “I don’t know who you are talking about but you are not talking about me. I was a person who couldn’t string two sentences together and had no skills. You believed in me professionally. I hope everyone finds a Todd like I did.”