Australian tennis player Jelena Dokic revealed to be a victim of physical abuse perpetrated by her own father, Damir Dokic, in an interview for Sport & Style.

The 26 year-old player, who was born in Osijek, Croatia, to a Serbian father and a Croatian mother, Ljiljana, went through years of abuse before she finally escaped in 2002.

Jelena says: “I’ve been through a lot worse than anybody on the tour. I can say that with confidence.”

“When you go through stuff like that, playing a tennis match is a pretty easy thing to do. When I win today it’s so much more satisfying,” Dokic was quoted as saying in the article.

Jelena confessed her boyfriend Tin Bikic helped her recover and she has finally come to terms what she has been through: “Whatever has happened, good or bad, will always stay there. It makes you what you are,” Dokic said.

Jelena Dokic Photos

[images: wenn.com]