Jelena Dokics father, known for abusing the tennis star, dead at 67

Jelena Dokic’s abusive father Damir has died, the former tennis star announced on Instagram on Wednesday evening.Damir, who was believed to be 67 years old, died last Friday, Jelena confirmed in a social media post.“My father passed away in the late hours on 16.05.2025,” she wrote.“As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history.“Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non-existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from.“The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief.“It’s an end of a chapter and life as I know it.”Just last week, Jelena talked excitedly about the prospect of becoming a mother and her desire to adopt.Dokic, who turned 42 last month, is a beloved figure in Australian sports.The former world No.4 tennis player survived physical and emotional abuse from her father Damir to forge a successful career as a commentator and author.Dokic continued in her post she had “complex emotions” about Damir’s death and was trying to focus on good memories of her father.“There are lots of conflicting and complex emotions and feelings for me,” she continued.“For the end of this chapter, I choose to focus on a good memory like this picture (see above).“And as always and especially important to who I am as a person and what I want to stand for which is respect, grace, kindness, dignity and empathy, I will and want to be that person in this situation too.

For now, I will leave it there.“Please respect mine and the rest of my family’s privacy at this time.Thank you to so many of you for checking in on me over the last few days and for being here for me while I navigate this difficult and complicated situation.“And my final words.

RIP.”Dokic’s post has received an outpouring of love from a wide variety of people, including some well ...