Tennis legend Jelena Dokic interviewed by Region‘s Oliver Jacques at Griffith City Library in December 2023. Photo: Supplied.
Two years after dazzling crowds in Wagga and Griffith, tennis legend Jelena Dokic is returning to the Riverina to speak at International Women’s Day events.
On Sunday 8 March, the former world number four will address a morning tea at a Wagga Women’s Health Centre Inc. event at the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre and then head to Regal Estate Winery in West Wyalong that afternoon to speak at a function that will include live music and grazing platters.
While both events are already sold out, you can put yourself on the waitlist for the Wagga and West Wyalong functions.
“We’ve kept a few tickets for some community groups; they might not use all those tickets, so there could be a few tickets that come out in a week or so, so putting yourself on the waitlist would be a good thing to do if you’re interested,” Bland Shire Council communications officer Bronwyn Sutton said, regarding the West Wyalong event.
Ms Sutton said it was very exciting for the small town, with the event selling out in just 24 hours.
Ms Dokic was born in war-torn Yugoslavia in 1983 and emigrated to Australia in 1994 as a refugee, her family settling in a tiny, rundown apartment in western Sydney.
Pushed hard by her father, she excelled in a sport dominated by rich kids – by the age of 13, she was already beating much older teenagers at under-18 tournaments.
In 1999, she pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in tennis history when, as a 16-year-old qualifier, she thrashed world number one Martina Hingis 6-2, 6-0 at Wimbledon.
Jelena Dokic reached a ranking of world number 4. Photo: Facebook US Open.
Many years later, she shocked the world with her autobiography Unbreakable, which lifted the lid on the extent to which she suffered at the hands of her now late father Damir – including being beaten to unconsciousness and coerced out of her earnings.
Later in life, she battled depression, attempted suicide and was often body-shamed by social media trolls, but has overcome adversity to author two books, become a popular TV commentator and launch a clothing fashion brand.
She will tell her extraordinary life story at the upcoming events in Wagga and West Wyalong.
“I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me; I want to use my story in a positive way to try and change the stigma about talking about issues we didn’t talk about 20 years ago,” she told the author of this article, who facilitated her previous Riverina event at Griffith City Library.
“It’s about helping others. I want people to know that being vulnerable isn’t a weakness, it’s what we need to get through adversity.”
While Ms Dokic’s two Riverina appearances are sold out, you can join the waitlist for the Wagga and West Wyalang events, which are both on Sunday 8 March.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.auMensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
