- Dokic confirms she will be present at the Australian Open
- Former professional suffered from a viral infection
- Star has become a popular commentator at the event
Australian commentator and former professional Jelena Dokic has confirmed her participation in the Australian Open after facing a health emergency last week.
Dokic, 40, abruptly announced on Tuesday that she would have to quit her duties as a commentator at the Adelaide Open after suffering an infection.
“I have contracted a viral infection and I need to leave and return home to Melbourne as soon as possible,” she wrote on social media.
“I am so sad and disappointed because I absolutely love Adelaide and this great tournament but I have no choice.
‘Now to Melbourne and hopefully I will be fine soon and on Sunday for the start of the Australian Open. Fingers crossed.’
Dokic has confirmed her participation in the Australian Open after contracting a viral infection
Dokic was in doubt for the grand slam after being forced out of the Adelaide International
Australian fans were angry with Dokic, who has become a fan favorite and one of the leading voices for Nine’s tennis coverage.
However, on Sunday morning Dokic provided an uplifting update on her health situation before the matches started at Melbourne Park.
‘It’s almost time. Melbourne is ready, @australianopen is ready and I’m ready to go,” Dokic posted on Instagram alongside a photo of himself wearing an Australian Open lanyard.
‘Just got my accreditation, done all the adjustments and meetings and I’m ready.
“And what better way to mark the start of the @australianopen than with a photo in front of Melbourne’s sign with my accreditation in the tunnels of the @rodlaverarena.”
Dokic received an outpouring of well wishes from tennis fans who were happy to see she was on the mend.
‘So glad you’re back to work, it’s not tennis without comments from Jelena! Stay healthy,” one fan wrote.
‘Glad to see that you are feeling better and fitter! THAT DRESS! I love it!’ replied another.
Dokic (pictured in her playing days) received an outpouring of support following her post
The Australian star has become a very popular commentator in recent years
‘Great to see you busy and getting ready for Jelena. I hope you’re feeling better now. Have a great Aus Open,” said a third.
It comes after the Australian tennis star recently hit out at ‘body shamers’.
She posted powerful photos of herself in sizes 6 and 16, along with a lengthy caption imploring fans not to “judge” her.
“Do you want to judge me if I’m a size 16 because I’m a larger size?” began the athlete-turned-commentator.
“And will you judge me if I’m ever a size 6 again because I’m no longer a bigger size and maybe I’ve lost weight?”
‘You should not. Anyway,” Jelena added.
“Shaming and ridiculing someone based on their weight, or judging someone’s worth based on their size, is pure body shaming and bullying,” the former world number 4 player wrote.
‘When it comes to health, of course I want to be healthy. Of course I’ll do my best. Of course I’m working on myself.’
She added: ‘The bottom line is that we need to stop obsessing over size, weight and dimensions and focus on kindness, a good heart and generosity.’
‘So what if I’m a size 16 today and a size 4 later? Who cares!’
‘And finally, if you want to lose a few pounds, what then? If you gain some weight, what then? There is nothing wrong with one or the other,” Jelena concluded.
Jelena recently opened up to Stellar magazine about her years-long struggle with an eating disorder.
The tennis star revealed that she struggled with her relationship with food for years due to the trauma she experienced growing up.
She said much of her disordered eating stemmed from the abuse she suffered from her father and his weaponization of food when she was just a teenager.