"My father beat me, and things got worse behind closed doors": Jelena Dokic had to sleep in Wimbledon locker room due to abusive father
Tennis News
Jelena Dokic reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon back in 2000, but amongst all of that, she was going through inner turmoil of abuse from her father. She opened up that she was made to sleep in the locker room after being exiled from the hotel.
Dokic lost to Lindsay Davenport and was given a harsh dressing down by Damir Dokic after the match after harrowing abuse from being a child which she has previously opened up about.
“When I started playing tennis and hit the first ball, my father beat me, and things got worse behind closed doors,” Dokic told the Head Game podcast.
“I was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, I'm sitting in the players' section, crying and listening to my father say that I'm a disgrace and that I've ruined both my family and him because I lost in the semi-finals of Wimbledon.
“I was not allowed to go to the hotel and was told to do whatever I wanted, to manage, to sleep on the street and not be able to come back. I stayed at Wimbledon, I waited for everyone to leave and I went to the corner of the players' sector, to have a place to stay and to sleep there. They found me in the middle of the night, because the cleaners cleaned the place at night.”
Speaking in April, she also opened up about previously being fat shamed and how in her mind, it doesn't matter as she has endured turmoil and is in her mind lucky to be alive.
“What is the most common comment I see when it comes to my body size and weight? What happened to her? I can barely recognise her. Really? What happened? You can't recognise me?” Dokic wrote in April. "Let me tell you what happened. I survived being a refugee twice, I was bullied, I lived in a domestic violence-filled home for 15 years and I was beaten unconscious.
“I was abused physically and emotionally and got beaten for the first time when I was six years [old], I was called a whore and a cow since I was as young as 11.
“I had to escape home, I battled anxiety, depression, PTSD and trauma and I almost committed suicide. I still managed to do pretty well, I managed to be top 5 in the world as tennis player and a grand slam finalist, I am a bestselling author, commentator and speaker but most importantly I survived.”
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
- Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.mandoist06-11-2026
- Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
