‘I’m extremely lucky to be here’: Jelena Dokic on childhood dreams and talking tennis

Australia’s former world No 4 player and now respected pundit speaks about highs and lows in her life, and the importance of family on success

All sports stars know that dealing with highs and lows comes with the territory, as part of the job. But few have been through such extremes as Jelena Dokic, who spent her whole career, and much of her life, navigating painful moments. Abused, physically and psychologically, by her father, Dokic suffered from depression, an eating disorder and, at the very lowest moments, contemplated suicide.

But Dokic never gave up, showing rare resilience, built from her experience growing up in a war-torn country and being a refugee, twice. (Dokic was born in Croatia – part of the former Yugoslavia – and moved to Serbia, before settling in Australia). Somehow, even in the worst moments off the court, she was able to produce incredible moments on it.