On the court, Jelena Dokic proved an unstoppable force. With athletic prowess and impenetrable strength, she would leave opponents bewildered, questioning just how they could get a shot past the tennis star and claw their way back onto the scoreboard. Dokic’s forehands ripped across the court, and her backhands were the stuff of legend, firing past individual’s and pushing them further behind the baseline. Encapsulating the defiance we’ve come to expect of our sporting stars, it’s hard to reconcile the image of Dokic the tennis player with that of the person, the very human portrait of a woman simply looking to chase lofty goals but who also found herself caught in a terrifying cycle of depression, anxiety and mental health struggles.
Since retiring from the sport, Dokic has continued to speak up about the mental health battles she has faced in her life. Recently she revealed that in the midst of her mental health struggles, she nearly took her own life six weeks ago. The former No 4 and Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2000 shared a lengthy caption to Instagram in which she described how she felt in April of this year, accompanied by a photo of herself in tears.
In the post, Dokic wrote: “28.04.2022 – I almost jumped off my 26th floor balcony and took my own life. Will never forget the day. Everything is blurry. Everything is dark. No tone, no picture, nothing makes sense…just tears, sadness, depression, anxiety and pain. The last six months have been tough. It’s been constant crying everywhere. From hiding in the bathroom when at work to wipe away my tears so that nobody sees it to the unstoppable crying at home within my four walls has been unbearable.”
Dokic added that she had been struggling for six months with such feelings, only to have them reach a head where the thought of taking her own life presented itself. Understanding that such a thought was the result of her depression, she sought professional help and now, as she revealed to her countless followers, she is on the road to recovery.
“I pulled myself off the edge, don’t even know how I managed to do it,” wrote Dokic. “Getting professional help saved my life. This is not easy to write but I have always been open, honest and vulnerable with you all and I deeply believe in the power of sharing our stories to help us get through things and to help each other.”
Dokic continued: “I am writing this because I know I am not the only one struggling. Just know that you are not alone. I am not going to say that I am doing great now but I am definitely on the road to recovery. Some days are better than others and sometimes I take a step forward and then a step back but I’m fighting and I believe I can get through this.”
Since retiring from tennis in 2014, Dokic has been the voice of great insight through her commentary for various Australia television networks, including the Australian Open where she conducted post-match and on-court interviews. She’s also released an autobiography in 2017, that detailed the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, Damir, during her tennis career. In being so open about her struggles, Dokic hopes that others will be encouraged to seek help for their own mental health battles and know that they aren’t so alone in their despair. “I believe in the following: it’s ok to feel what I am feeling. It’s ok to feel sad just keep fighting and come back. That’s what I am trying to do and that’s what keeps me going.”
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help and support is available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or text 0477 131 114 for 24/7 support.
