Jelena Dokic calls out 'disgusting' trolls over body-shaming: 'Evil'

WARNING: The following article contains confronting content.

Aussie tennis great Jelena Dokic has called out a number of social media trolls for 'body-shaming' her after a brilliant interview with nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. On Saturday, Dokic was praised for her interview with Djokovic after the Serbian defeated Grigor Dimitrov in the third round of the Australian Open.

Djokovic started the interview saying how happy he was to see Dokic in Melbourne, before they embarked on a rollercoaster of laughs on Rod Laver Arena. Dokic reposted plenty of support regarding the interview, but she also called out a number of trolls that had taken aim at her physical appearance.

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"The body-shaming in the last 24 hours has been insane. The body-shaming coming out of Serbia has been particularly bad as well as the last picture in my post confirms," she wrote. The Australian accompanied her post with a number of vile posts directed at her.

In her powerful message, Dokic went on to explain why she called out the trolls and revealed her fighting spirit. "Disgusting. People should be so ashamed," Dokic said. "The most common being 'what happened to her, she is so big?'"

"I will tell you what happened, I am finding a way and surviving and fighting. And it really doesn't matter what I am doing and what happened because size shouldn't matter. Kindness and being a good person matters, which those of that abuse me and others, are clearly not...Weight will change, but evil people will remain evil."

Dokic didn't reveal the identity of the trolls in the post and revealed she wanted to hold her head up high. "I will also be kind and the bigger person unlike you trolls and not reveal your identity," she wrote.

"Love you all, even the trolls because you give me so much motivation and inspiration to do what I do and to fight against people like you."

Dokic received an overwhelming amount of support from the tennis world after her tough message. Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou said: "You are doing a great job Jelena. Don't even read those comments and don't give them any importance...The majority love you, admire you and the amazing job you are doing."

Jelena Dokic' brave fight against online trolls

In April last year, the former World No.4 revealed her battle with depression and how she almost took her own life, saying seeking professional help has "saved her life". The Channel Nine commentator also recently opened up about trolling she had already received at this year's Australian Open.

Dokic revealed that a troll had written in Serbian: "Now that the Australian Open is starting will Jelena Dokic try to kill herself like she does every year." The 39-year-old revealed last year that she'd almost taken her own life in April.

"A new low. Just when you think online abuse and trolling can’t get any worse," Dokic wrote last Friday. "Almost 1 million people commit suicide in the world every year. That’s scary and so sad and then people like this disgusting person and a few others out there make fun of it!?

"How disgusting. They should ashamed of themselves. What kind of a person can write something like this and then even worse laugh about it? A bad person, that’s who. And of course an ignorant one.

"I am thinking of all of those who have committed suicide, those who have wanted to, those who have lost friends and loved ones to suicide and all those struggling. I am fighting for all of those who feel like they don’t have a voice, who don’t feel like they are being heard, for those who are struggling, for those who have struggled with suicidal thoughts, have lost loved ones and friends to suicide and I am fighting against ignorance, bad people, trolls, online abuse and disgusting human beings.

"So many are at their absolute breaking point so please be kind, caring and understanding. Sending so much love to all the good people out there and especially to all those struggling."

Earlier in the tournament, commentator and doubles great Todd Woodbridge also revealed the horror abuse he had received on social media.

Readers seeking support and information can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

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