Just a couple of months ago, Jelena Dokic impressed tennis fans with her poised return to the camera, only days after the heartbreaking loss of her father, Damir. The 42-year-old tennis commentator led Channel 9’s French Open preview with remarkable composure, showing little trace of the personal grief she had shared on Instagram. “It’s an end of a chapter and life as I know it,” she wrote candidly. Her calm presence on screen so soon after a tragedy reflected both grace and resilience, qualities that have long defined her.

Now, in a deeply personal revelation, Dokic has shared why she chose not to attend her father’s funeral. In a recent Instagram post, Dokic announced, “TONIGHT 8 PM ABC !!! My ‘Australian Story’ interview with @leigh_sales airs tonight at 8 pm on ABC. This is a little snippet from the hour-long interview. Hope you can all tune in.” The former tennis star used the interview as a space to open up publicly for the first time about her decision.

“I have come to terms, actually, to accept that he doesn’t love me and that he never did. And I genuinely believe that,” she said, speaking with honesty and calm reflection. Dokic explained that despite multiple attempts to reconcile, there was never a sense of resolution or mutual understanding between her and her father. “I tried to reconcile with my father two or three times. It wasn’t possible. It’s hard on someone not even a little bit sorry or has any remorse. And in fact, he said he would do it all again. I just made a cut and we were estranged for 10 years.”

“I have come to terms, actually, to accept that he doesn’t love me and that he never did. And I genuinely believe that,” she said, speaking with honesty and calm reflection. Dokic explained that despite multiple attempts to reconcile, there was never a sense of resolution or mutual understanding between her and her father. “I tried to reconcile with my father two or three times. It wasn’t possible. It’s hard on someone not even a little bit sorry or has any remorse. And in fact, he said he would do it all again. I just made a cut and we were estranged for 10 years.”

Her decision regarding the funeral, then, was made with clarity. “I didn’t feel like I needed to go. It’s the end. It’s done,” she said simply, choosing peace over expectation. She also reflected on forgiveness and self-worth, emphasizing that healing does not always depend on reconciliation. “I don’t necessarily forgive him, I have to forgive him, and here is the big thing. I do not hate him. I had to actually find my self-worth. You will fall, you will fail, you will make mistakes. You will do it a million times. As long as you get back up a million and one.”

Her message carried a sense of closure and empowerment. “I am not a victim, I don’t want pity. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. It was always about coming out the other end, and maybe someone will see it and go, ‘you know what she did, maybe I can do it too.’” Every word reflected her focus on growth, not grievance — on moving forward rather than looking back.

Jelena Dokic revealed tennis as her passion despite the problems

Now that she has shared her reasons and closed this difficult chapter, Dokic remains committed to the game that once shaped her life. Her passion for tennis continues to shine, both in her commentary work and in her efforts to inspire others through honesty and resilience.

Born in the former Yugoslavia in 1983, Dokic rose to global prominence at just sixteen, when she stunned the tennis world by defeating world number one Martina Hingis at Wimbledon in 1999. “From the very first day I hit that tennis ball, it was like the love of my life,” she once said. That love has carried her through both triumph and hardship, grounding her in purpose.

Today, Jelena Dokic stands as a voice of strength and authenticity. Her choice not to attend her father’s funeral was not made in anger, but in acceptance — a testament to how healing sometimes means letting go. Through loss and reflection, she continues to show that dignity and self-respect can light the way forward, even after the darkest chapters close.

As the dust settles, Jelena has reclaimed her life and her voice, now thriving as a commentator and a woman of self-respect. The sun rising over her journey reveals pride, honor, and hard-won dignity, shining brighter than any shadow cast by her past.