Survival, Success, and Serena: Jelena Dokic on reclaiming her narrative
In the latest episode of Deuce, hosts Julie Snook and Adam Peacock sat down with tennis icon Jelena Dokic to discuss her remarkable journey from a traumatised teenage prodigy to a thriving media personality. The wide-ranging conversation coincided with the release of her number-one documentary, Unbreakable, offering a raw look at her life after tennis
This week we dive into the cinematic release of Unbreakable, which Dokic revealed was five years in the making. She expressed genuine shock at the film’s success, noting that it had been the number-one Australian film in cinemas for three consecutive weeks. Dokic shared that while parts of the documentary are a "hard watch," the overwhelming feedback has been that it is "powerful," a word she finds deeply gratifying as she seeks to spark conversations around domestic violence and mental health.
Dokic admitted she chose not to watch the film in parts during production, preferring to see the final cut to protect her mental well-being. She highlighted that seeing archive footage she had forgotten about—or never seen—was a "weird" and emotional experience. She specifically mentioned being moved by Lindsay Davenport’s recount of a particularly dark moment in Dokic’s career, noting that hearing others’ perspectives was often more impactful than sharing her own.
Reclaiming the court: From "traitor" labels to interviewing the GOATs
A significant portion of the interview addressed Dokic’s complex relationship with Australia and her father. She spoke candidly about the moment her father forced her to switch allegiances to Yugoslavia just 24 hours before the Australian Open, describing it as a "lose-lose scenario" where she feared for her life. "I would take a hundred years of abuse just for him not to have taken that moment away from me," she remarked, reflecting on the pain of being booed by 15,000 people who branded her a traitor.
However, the episode struck a triumphant note when discussing her transition into commentary and media. Dokic described a "full circle moment" when she interviewed Novak Djokovic on Rod Laver Arena—the same court where she had once been vilified. She revealed that Djokovic had been her hitting partner years earlier and that their on-court exchange was a natural, "beautiful moment" of mutual respect. She also shared her pride in having interviewed Serena Williams before her retirement, a testament to how far she has come from a person who "couldn't string two sentences together" due to depression.
The future of tennis and a life lived with kindness
Looking ahead, Dokic provided expert analysis on the current state of the game, praising the dominance of Aryna Sabalenka and the "queen of clay" Iga Świątek. She also touched on the surprising coaching partnership between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, suggesting that Djokovic is likely looking for a "figure that will understand him" as he enters the twilight of his career.
Despite the heaviness of her past, Dokic emphasised that she now operates from a "place of kindness" and holds no bitterness toward her father or the media. With a third book slated for 2026 and a busy summer of tennis on the horizon, she declared herself to be in a "happy, balanced place." As she put it, she no longer wants people to see her as a victim, but rather as a "winner" and a "survivor" who has successfully reclaimed her voice.
