Aussie tennis great Jelena Dokic has slammed the ‘evil and disgusting trolls’ who have laid into her on social media yet again as they fat-shamed the popular commentator.
The 39-year-old former star rose to as high as world No.4 after beginning her career with one of the greatest upsets in tennis history against Martina Hingis at Wimbledon aged just 16.
But her life, which included growing up in poverty, recent suicidal thoughts and abuse at the hands of her father, has been anything but easy.
Aussie tennis legend and commentator Jelena Dokic has taken to social media to call out vile trolls for abusing her online
Just days after already calling out vicious keyboard warriors who seem to take joy in fat-shaming her, Dokic did so again, sharing a disgusting message she had seen from a fan.
‘I really don’t think it’s fair that a whale like Jelena Dokic takes my joy of watching tennis and turns it to crap,’ the vile troll wrote in a post that the tennis legend shared on her Instagram.
‘All she does is say how good she is. I bet it would take her 10 minutes to run 100m. Please get rid of her. Just the sight make me turn off.’
A furious Dokic labelled the person who wrote the post ‘EVIL’
She also posted a message she received in which she is fat-shamed and her co-commentator Tony Jones referenced
One vicious keyboard warrior also fat-shamed Dokic, telling her to ‘cut back on the snacks’
Instead of ignoring the troll or dwelling on the insults, Dokic bravely called the horrible comments out, sharing them with her 106,000 followers on Instagram.
She even revealed a lot of it had come from fellow women, which greatly disgusted her.
‘The “body shaming” and “fat shaming” over the last 24 hours has been insane,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Coming from everywhere in the world and a special shout to so much of it coming from Serbia as the last picture confirms.
‘And yes a lot of them are women too. So much for “women supporting women”.’
Jelena Dokic, pictured prior to commentating on the Australian Open with Channel Nine, has criticised the ‘evil and disgusting’ trolls who target her
She didn’t stop there.
The former junior champion, who has become a fan favourite with many for her insights on Channel Nine’s Australian Open coverage, lashed out at the ‘evil’ fat-shamer.
‘This first picture? EVIL. There is no other word for it. Disgusting. People should be so ashamed,’ Dokic wrote, accompanying a screenshot on the keyboard warrior’s post.
‘The most common comment being ‘what happened to her, she is so big’? I will tell you what happened, I am finding a way and surviving and fighting.
‘It really doesn’t matter what I am doing and what happened because size shouldn’t matter. Kindness and being a good person matters which those of you that abuse me and others are clearly not.’
The win of 10 career titles, Dokic made the heartbreaking revelation that she had come very close to taking her own life last year, because she ‘wanted the pain and suffering to stop’.
Dokic celebrates advancing to the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 1999
That someone would know that and make light of it, and continue to abuse her online, is mortifying.
Last week Dokic shared an abhorrent message that she called ‘a new low’: ‘Now that the Australian Open is starting, will Jelena Dokic try to kill herself like she does every year,’ a commenter wrote to her in Serbian, with a laughing emoji.’
But Dokic is determined to be a role model for those dealing with abuse and significant mental health issues, and call out keyboard warriors.
The 39-year-old is now a highly-respected and immensely popular tennis commentator
‘What matters is your online abuse, bullying and fat shaming. That’s what matters because those of you that do it are just evil, bad, mean and ignorant people,’ her post continued.
‘I can and will get in shape for myself and my health but you will not become a better person.
‘Weight will change but evil people will remain evil. I am here fighting for all those out there being abused and fat shamed.
‘I will also be kind and (be) the bigger person, unlike you trolls, and not reveal your identity.
‘Love you all. Even the trolls, because you give me so much motivation and inspiration to do what I do and to fight against people like you.
‘For all those out there supporting me and there are so many of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.’
Dokic is determined to be the ‘bigger person’, and said she wouldn’t name and shame the trolls who have continually targeted her
Fortunately for the Aussie star, whose family emigrated when she was young from then war-torn Yugoslavia, she does have a lot of support.
Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who is currently coaching superstar Dane Holger Rune at the Open, commented that he greatly admired Dokic.
‘You are doing a great job Jelena. Don’t even read those comments and don’t give them any importance. You will always find unhappy/envious/negative people on social media,’ he wrote on her post.
‘All they do all day long is post horrible things on people which tells a lot about their own insecurities. The majority loves you, admire you and the amazing job you are doing!’
Aussie television personality Catriona Rowntree urged Dokic to consider giving up social media, given the horrible trolls, and heartwarmingly wrote that her ‘brains, background and beauty are above and beyond’.
Jelena Dokic unleashes her trademark double-handed backhand in an Australian Open match against icon Martina Hingis in 1999
‘Honestly, get rid of the social media, the fact is your doing an amazing job, that’s why you’re there, you wouldn’t be asked to do this if you weren’t considered the best at what you do,’ the Getaway presenter commented.
‘Focus on that, continue to power on, your brains, your background, your beauty are above and beyond.’
Paralympian Susan Seipel said Dokic was ‘awesome for calling out the bullies’, while comedian Christian Hull wrote she is ‘the most gorgeous, beautiful human. Continuously inspired by you.’
The fiercest came from three-time gold medallist Carol Cooke, who urged Dokic not to do the trolls a favour by covering up their identities.
‘Jelena you need to not cover their names. They need to not be able to hide behind a screen. Let’s name and shame them. You are amazing for standing up to them and we are all so proud of you!’
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