Jelena Dokic reveals she’s back to her 2016 size – and admits she used to ‘hide’ in men’s clothes because of her low self-esteem

Jelena Dokic has revealed she’s back to her 2016 weight in a powerful new Instagram post.

The 41-year-old took to social media on Sunday to share photos of herself in 2016 and 2024, saying: “I’m the same size in both pictures.”

However, she admitted that the biggest difference between the photos came down to “confidence.”

The 2016 photo showed Dokic wearing dark clothing while flashing a tight smile.

The photo from 2024, on the other hand, showed the former tennis star in a bright red ensemble and with a wide grin.

She admitted that she had been “hiding” in men’s clothing at the time due to crippling self-doubt.

‘I always dressed in black. Completely black or dark gray. I wore men’s clothing. Men’s shirts.’

‘I didn’t think I was good enough to wear anything nice, colour, women’s clothing, dresses or heels.

“Imagine having such low self-esteem and self-worth that you wear men’s clothing.”

However, she concluded with an encouraging message for her fans, writing: “Never hide, always stand tall, be proud and hold your head high.”

It comes just weeks after Dokic opened up in a new documentary about the domestic violence she suffered as a young tennis player.

In a trailer for Unbreakable, out next month, Dokic recalls how she felt the pressure to win because her father Damir was regularly taking blows.

Jelena was born in Yugoslavia and her family moved to Australia when she was 11 years old.

Her tennis career peaked when she reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 1999 and the semi-finals in 2000, followed by the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2002.

‘I’m 16 years old here. I played #1 Martina Hingis and I knew if I lost the consequences would be catastrophic,” she says as she watches footage of herself playing.

‘One day after I lost, I knew what was going to happen… I started to feel really broken inside.

‘There wasn’t an inch of skin that wasn’t bruised. I’m 17 and because of his actions, [I] became the most hated person.’

Lindsay Davenport, a three-time grand slam tennis champion, also stars in the documentary and recalls seeing Jelena suffer.

“Some of the other players had noticed bruises,” Davenport said.

American doubles legend Pam Shriver adds: ‘When you look back and see what she has achieved, wow.’

Australian journalist Richard Hinds also says: ‘There were rumors quite early on about what was happening. Questions were asked, but they hit a wall.’

Meanwhile, leading tennis reporter Christopher Clarey expresses regret for not investigating the rumors further.

‘Could I have dug deeper to find out what was really going on? I think a lot of us could have done that,” he says.

Dokic has long been open about her struggles with depression, social media abuse, body shaming and the domestic violence she has suffered throughout her career.

In April, she posted photos of herself at 17 with bruised legs on Instagram, saying she is “sad and angry” about the countless number of women who are victims of abuse.

“Swollen, bruised and bleeding shins from being hit and kicked in the shins with sharp shoes all night because I lost a match,” she posted.

‘These photos were taken over two weeks later and I was still badly bruised. I was 17 years old.

‘To this day I still have tender and bumpy shins from these blows.

‘Every wound has a scar and these are mine. I survived, but not all women and girls have or will.

“And that’s the sad reality.”

She added that she wanted to speak for patients who don’t have the same platform as her.

“I spoke at an event today about domestic and family violence and I felt sad,” she continued.

“Sad and angry because the tens of millions of women in the world, who I know are going through right now, are going through far worse than I have ever experienced.

‘In Australia alone, one woman is killed every week by domestic violence. 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during their lifetime.

‘Around the world the figures are even worse.

“The more we don’t talk about it, the more we avoid the issue, the more we let women and girls down.

“For those reading this who may be experiencing abuse or domestic violence, know that I understand you.

“I know how scared and scared you are. Know that you have incredible strength and courage. Nothing is your fault.’

“For those who can, please be there for those who need help and support. Don’t avoid them or abandon them.

“Coming from someone who has been there, abandoned and terrified, please don’t turn your back. Women and girls need you and your help.”

If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit their website 1800respect.org.au. In case of emergency you can call 000.