Tennis star Jelena Dokic on how the ‘sudden’ end of a long-term relationship led to a breakdown

Tennis star and TV commentator Jelena Dokic has opened up when she hit rock bottom – and saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

In a raw interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, the 39-year-old opened up about a turbulent year during which she split from her partner, 18, Tim Bikic and struggled with her mental health.

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Dokic has been open about her mental health over the years, giving her more than 100,000 Instagram followers a candid look at her struggles.

Now single and living alone for the first time in her adult life, Dokic said she went through some incredibly dark times in 2022.

Earlier this year, viral footage of a 14-year-old Chinese tennis player being verbally and physically abused by her father and coach took Dokic straight back to her own youth when she was abused by her own father, Damir Dokic.

The true depth of her trauma was revealed in her 2017 memoir, Unbreakable.

But Dokic’s breakup earlier this year blew her mind in other ways.

“We didn’t fight, we don’t have hard feelings, but it was a shock,” Dokic said of the end of her relationship with Bikic.

“We’ve been together for a very long time, almost 19 years – since we were 20 – so it’s always hard when something like this comes to an end.”

Dokic said she would “always love him” and said Bikic was there for her in her “deepest moments”.

“I’m not sure I would be here today if it wasn’t for him,” she added.

“But I think when you end a relationship that long, it’s almost like a grieving process because it ended quite suddenly.”

Dokic threw herself into the work, but she knew something was wrong – and by April she was battling suicidal thoughts.

“I hit rock bottom and it definitely wasn’t easy,” she said.

“I felt like I failed there even for a second because I was there [having these suicidal thoughts] in 2006 and I felt like I would never be there again.”

But because she had been there before, Dokic knew exactly what to do – ask for help and accept it.

“I think the good thing was from my previous experiences, I knew exactly what that feeling was and that I needed to stop what I was doing and focus on myself,” she said.

“And as much as it was a low point, I’m really proud that I’m doing so well now, six months later.”

Dokic surrounded herself with her closest friends and visited her mother in Croatia.

Then, in Australia, Dokic gradually began to adjust to life as a single woman.

“It actually made me realize that I’m very strong,” she said.

“I have to be honest, I love being in a relationship, loving someone and being loved back, but I’ve realized that I can be alone.”

She said it’s important to open up to others when you’re struggling mentally and there’s no shame in doing so.

“For a time when I was struggling with my mental health, I was like, ‘Oof, where do I go from here? how do i fight How do I get out of this?’” she said.

“But there is always a bit of optimism in me, and I try to pass that on to others.

“That’s why I like the saying, ‘There’s always a light at the end of a tunnel.’

“Sometimes it’s hard to see, but you have to hold onto that even in the darkest moments.”

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If you need help in a crisis, call lifeline on 13 11 14. For more information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or speak to your GP, your local healthcare professional or someone you trust.