Australian tennis legend Jelena Dokic received warm congratulations from the tennis community upon announcing her new relationship.
She shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, introducing her partner, Yane Veselinov. In her post, the 42-year-old expressed her feelings, saying, “You are my peaceful, safe place.”
The announcement was met with a flood of supportive comments from fans, many of whom were ecstatic. One comment read, “I couldn’t love this more,” while another expressed, “Ah, yayyyyyy!!!! So happy for you! You deserve all the joy and happiness that life has to offer.” Fans chimed in with sentiments like “Best news to date” and “So happy for your happiness—you deserve this love.”
Dokic, who had previously been in a long-term relationship with Tin Bikic for 19 years before their breakup in 2022, seems to be finding joy again after a difficult period. Since splitting, she has opened up about her past, particularly the emotional and physical abuse she faced from her late father, Damir.
Her relationship news comes shortly after she discussed her mental health on a podcast, where she reflected on her past experiences. She mentioned the challenges she faced in her earlier relationship, where they had even begun discussing starting a family.
Dokic rose to fame as a teenager in 1999 when she made a surprising Wimbledon debut, challenging world No. 1 Martina Hingis. She made it to the semi-finals the following year, marking her highest achievement in Grand Slam tournaments. However, her career took a downturn due to her complicated relationship with her father, who drew her back to Australia and altered her career trajectory.
Now, as she contemplates motherhood, Dokic expressed concerns about repeating the cycles of her past. Nonetheless, she remains hopeful. “I know a lot of people with similar backgrounds, and while my experiences weren’t the best, I want to ensure my children feel loved,” she emphasized.
Despite her apprehensions about parenting, she affirmed her desire to have children. “Even if I’m a single mother, I would want to adopt one day. My child will have all the love in the world,” she said resolutely.
If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this story, please call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text 88788.
