Former tennis star Jelena Dokic is opening up about finding love again, rebuilding her confidence and learning to move forward after years of trauma in her new book, Live Free.
The 43-year-old, who has become a leading advocate for survivors of family violence, said her third book marked a shift from her earlier memoirs, Unbreakable and Fearless.
“I feel like, especially for this one, it’s a real pivot from the first two, and especially from the first one, which was a memoir,” she told nine.com.au.
Dokic hopes to show readers that their past does not have to define their future.
“And not being defined by that past, instead actually using it to drive you and still be able to go forward and fulfil goals and dreams, personally and professionally.”
The book also explores her relationship with partner Yane Veselinov, whom she met after the end of her almost 20-year relationship with Tin Bikic in 2021.
Dokic admitted she once thought finding love again would be impossible.
“I really thought that was something that was going to be impossible after finishing an almost 20-year relationship. It’s such a new world to then to go into.
“I was alone for almost five years and that in a way gave it a chance for this really lovely, amazing person to come along later on in life.”
She said the couple had continued to grow and heal together.
“I actually feel like I have gone into my friendships and my relationships definitely not fully healed, and I think we’re all learning and growing and healing our whole lives. And I think you can have scars, you can have wounds that you can work on together.”
Dokic, who is now one of Australia’s leading tennis commentators at Nine, also reflects on taking chances in her professional life, like how her friend and colleague Todd Woodbridge encouraged her to give commentary a go, despite her initial doubts.
“Most of the time you’re not going to be ready for something, and you never know if you’re ready or not. Sometimes you’ve got to jump into things and give it a go and figure it out.”
“I feel if I don’t give it a go, I might regret it. And if even if something doesn’t turn out absolutely amazing, I’ll will always get positive things out of it. I look at it more as lessons than losses,” she continued
The Logie-winning documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story helped bring her experiences of family violence to a wider audience. She continues to advocate for survivors, as well as people facing mental health struggles, bullying and body-shaming.
“For such a long time, victims and survivors were shamed instead celebrated and praised for what they’re going through and speaking up, and abusers, perpetrators, and those actually doing the shaming haven’t really faced consequences,” she explained.
“So, that’s why I’m so passionate about it and talk about it, because I feel like it needs to change. And we are doing better now, but I feel like, a long way to go.“
Dokic said she was determined not to let her past change the kind of person she wanted to be.
“I wanted to be someone that has gone through something tough and hard, but I didn’t want that to harden me as a person. I wanted to stay soft, I wanted to stay positive, I wanted to be someone that’s kind, I wanted to be someone that could leave a legacy behind.”
Live Free will be released on November 3.
Images: Instagram
