Jelena Dokic wins supporters everywhere for her heart-on-sleeve commentary

Jelena Dokic’s no bulls--t approach to commentary and taking on body shamers won her wide acclaim during a time of personal heartache.

Jelena Dokic’s no bulls--t, heart-on-your-sleeve approach to tennis, TV commentary and her life has seen her ace the Australian Open.

After calling out body shamers, sharing her heartbreak over the end of her love match of almost 19 years with Tin Bikic and engaging in a tearful hug during an on-court interview with veteran French player Alize Cornet, Dokic has emerged as one of the surprise stars of the grand slam.

Her forthrightness, anger and frustration about online trolls and the schooling she served up to social media creeps, who targeted her because of her appearance, made her even more relatable and admirable.

Almost 5000 comments were posted on the Instagram post where she laid down the law to the social media body shamers.

“JUST STOP ALREADY. NOT JUST WHEN IT COMES TO ME BUT OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WOMEN,” she wrote.

“This is a serious problem and one that women face all the time.

“I have said it before and I will say it again, STOP COMMENTING ON MY WEIGHT AND SIZE.

“It is not kind and it’s ignorant.

“I am strong, I can take it and I don’t care about you, but I will call it out.”

To the question: ‘What happened to you?’, she replied: “Well, a s--t load has happened but I am here and I am fighting but that’s not what you care about. You only care about my weight and how to make fun of it.”

No dry eyes in the house 😭😭😭

This on-court interview between @alizecornet and Jelena Dokic is everything. #AusOpen · #AO2022pic.twitter.com/F3nN0XSHNX

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2022

Dokic has lived an extraordinary life – one of brutal challenges, deep anguish and hard-fought achievements.

She is a marvellous tennis commentator, so well-prepared and knowledgeable, and has been a great asset to Channel 9’s broadcast team.

But her unfiltered, raw emotion, which spilt out at certain moments during the tournament, such as the interaction with Cornet or her blistering but considered social media blast at body shamers, is what makes Dokic special.

On Saturday night she was fighting back tears during the pre-match show as she spoke of Barty’s preparation for the final showdown.

Her emotions, which bubble so close to the surface, draw people to her and provoke a response in even the most jaded of viewers.

How unique and refreshing is this?

Over the course of the 2022 Open, Dokic has elevated herself in the ranks of tennis media performers.

Keep serving up the insights and opinions Jelena – you are world class.