Jelena Dokic accuses father of abuse
May 4th, 2009 - 2:58 pm ICT by IANSSydney, May 4 (DPA) Australian tennis player Jelena Dokic said Monday she left home nine years ago to escape the physical abuse meted out by her father, Damir.
The 26-year-old told the Sydney Morning Herald she was “pretty lucky to be here” after a tumultuous family life that saw her abandon Australia and then return after splitting with her father, a former boxer and Belgrade taxi driver.
“I’ve been through a lot worse than anyone on the tour,” Dokic said. “When you go through stuff like that, playing a tennis match is a pretty easy thing to do.”
Dokic, who is estranged from her father, represented Australia in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She left her adopted country the following year to return to Serbia with Damir.
Three years ago she was accepted back in Australia, and in January reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after being granted a wild-card entry.
Dokic, a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2000, held the world no 4 ranking two years later.
She was at no 31 in the most recent rankings.
- Tennis star Dokic's dad released from prison on parole - Apr 16, 2010
- Somdev gets Australian Open wildcard - Jan 06, 2011
- No meeting between Jelena and her estranged dad, say Oz Open officials - Jan 26, 2009
- Jelena Dokic had received physical abuse from her father - May 04, 2009
- Federer says ATP needs global sponsor (Australian Open diary) - Jan 25, 2010
- Jelena Dokic's father sentenced to 15 months in retrial - Sep 25, 2009
- Tennis star Dokic says her father abused her - May 04, 2009
- Tennis star Jelena Dokic upset over father's arrest in Serbia - May 08, 2009
- Damir Dokic says all his threats were 'a joke' - May 08, 2009
- Jelena's father apologises to her - Jan 24, 2009
- Jelena's brother hopes to reunite with star sister - Feb 05, 2009
- Tennis star Jelena Dokic to fly to Serbia - Jun 12, 2009
- Tennis star Dokic's jailed dad goes on hunger strike - Oct 09, 2009
- Dokic's father threatens to blow up embassy over interview - May 06, 2009
- Father admits beating Oz tennis ace Jelena 'for her sake' - May 07, 2009
Tags: 2000 sydney olympics, australia, australian open, australian tennis player, boxer, jelena dokic, morning herald, nine years, olympics, physical abuse, quarterfinals, semi finalist, sydney morning herald, taxi driver, tennis match, tennis player jelena, wild card, wimbledon