Jelena Dokic has received an outpouring of messages on social media after going public with her new relationship with Yane Veselinov. The Australian tennis hero has been spotted with Veselinov a number of times over the last few weeks, but ‘hard-launched’ the relationship on Instagram on Monday evening.
Posting a photo of her and her partner both beaming, Dokic wrote: “You are my calm, safe, peaceful and happy place. So glad I found you.”
Grand slam champion Kim Clijsters posted a love heart emoji in response, while cricket presenter Erin Holland wrote: “COULDN’T LOVE THIS MORE.” Hollywood actress Megan Gale posted three heart emojis, while another follower commented: “Best news of the year! Happy for you both.”
Veselinov is believed to be a hospitality operations manager who lives in Melbourne. He describes himself on social media as a “food and wine enthusiast, pleasure seeker and life enjoyer”.
Jelena Dokic’s wish to become a mother
Dokic is a former World No.4 who has become one of Australia’s most popular commentators and analysts. She previously dated Tin Bikic for 19 years, and was left heartbroken when the relationship ended in 2022.
She recently opened up on her desire to start a family, and flagged the possibility of adopting children as a single mum. “I was in a relationship for almost 19 years from the age of 20 and right when we split up, we were about to start trying for a family,” she admitted. “Maybe one day will I adopt? Possibly. It’s something I would love to do because I love kids.
“I love kids and I know even if I were a single mum, to be honest, and I adopted one day, it would have all the love in the world. I would love to have a father as well, but I know I can give it absolutely everything and (it) would have all the love and support and I would be completely different.
“I always said I wanted to have kids, but I want to adopt. So that’s a big wish of mine and passion and I hope to do it one day.”
Brave move after death of estranged father Damir
Dokic has opened up a number of times over the years about the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of late father Damir, which is the subject of her award-winning documentary. Damir died in May after being estranged from his daughter for the last 10 years.
In a brave and emotional social media post, Jelena admitted to “conflicting and complex” feelings about Damir’s death and said “it’s never easy losing a parent and a father, even one you are estranged from.” Damir inflicted physical and mental abuse on Jelena while he was her coach, and at one stage made her change allegiances from Australia to Yugoslovia against her will.
“As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history,” she wrote after his death. “Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from.
“The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief. It’s an end of a chapter and life as I know it. There are lots of conflicting and complex emotions and feelings for me.
“For the end of this chapter, I choose to focus on a good memory like this picture (she posted from her youth). And as always and especially important to who I am as a person and what I want to stand for which is respect, grace, kindness, dignity and empathy, I will and want to be that person in this situation too.”
She returned to work with Channel 9 soon after, leading the network’s coverage of the French Open. She was also on TV screens throughout Wimbledon, which wrapped up on Sunday night.
