Jelena Dokic turns heads after 'disgusting' Australian Open furore

WARNING: The following article contains confronting content.

Jelena Dokic has turned heads on social media after celebrating her new look with a number of picture posts that have melted the hearts of fans. The former World No.4 and Channel Nine commentator found herself at the centre of a shocking controversy during the Australian Open after calling out trolls for fat-shaming her during the host broadcaster's coverage of the grand slam.

Dokic spoke out against one particularly disgraceful post in which a social media user made reference to her well publicised mental health battle. Having revealed that she nearly took her own life last year, Dokic said the troll had written in Serbian: "Now that the Australian Open is starting will Jelena Dokic try to kill herself like she does every year."

'UNREAL': Iga Swiatek stuns tennis world in 'ridiculous' 98-year first

WOW: Nadal dragged into ugly row amid uproar around Djokovic

AMAZING: Ons Jabeur in massive update after 'heartbreaking' injury fallout

Proving that she has moved on from the vile controversy, Dokic took to Instagram over the last week to celebrate her new look for a recent event in Melbourne. The 39-year-old uploaded several images of her beautiful outfit and hair style for the AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event) trade show.

“My look for the AIME Asia Pacific event,” she wrote. “Outfit (dress and jacket) by @witcheryfashion," Dokic wrote in reference to the event where she was appearing as a keynote speaker. The former World No.4 also gave a shout-out to hair and make-up artist, Alex Munro, after posting another close-up shot.

"Had to post this look one more time," she added. "Amazing work by @alexmunromakeup with my hair and makeup and all that coming straight from Bali and landing an hour before she did this look. Amazing.

"Also how amazing is this dress and jacket from @witcheryfashion. Beautiful material, so comfortable and perfect for winter."

Fans clearly agreed with Dokic as the comments sections lit up in response to her posts. "You look fabulous!!! Keep up the good work," one user gushed.

Another added: “Beautiful and classy as always. Sensational look, while one fan described her as "absolutely stunning". “What a fantastic Australian role model you are,” another wrote.

"Beautiful, Jelena! You look gorgeous," someone else replied. Another commented: "Yes Jelena...beautiful inside and out and one of the best commentators...fantastic."

Dokic was targeted by body-shamers at the Australian Open and was widely praised for calling out the "evil" and "vile" trolls who had been commenting on her weight throughout the grand slam at Melbourne Park. Dokic received a number of sickening comments after a playful post-match interview with Serbian star Novak Djokovic went viral around the world.

"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 alongside screenshots of a number of messages directed at her.

"Disgusting. People should be so ashamed. 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."

Body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt, who in January was announced as Australian of the Year, threw her support behind Dokic at the time after telling Channel 10 that "bullying is never okay." Like many others in the tennis world and around Australia, Brumfitt praised Dokic for having the courage to come out and speak about the ugly controversy.

“Bullying is never okay and I think we need to call it out. I think we are getting better in this country at doing that," Brumfitt said on The Project at the time. “Good on her (Dokic) for the way she responded and I will give her a call this week to have that conversation. I know how it feels to be trolled and how it feels to have those naysayers but if we keep leading with light and love there‘s nothing more powerful than that.”

In April last year, Dokic opened up on her battle with depression and how it almost claimed her life. The former World No.4 revealed that she almost took her own life in 2022, but added that seeking professional help has "saved her life".

"The last six months have been tough," she wrote at the time. "It's been constant crying everywhere. From hiding in the bathroom when at work, to wiping away my tears so that nobody sees it, to the unstoppable crying at home within my four walls has been unbearable.

"Constant feelings of sadness and pain are just not going away and my life has been shattered. April 28th. Will never forget the day, I just wanted the pain and the suffering to stop. Getting professional help saved my life.

“This is not easy to write but I have always been open, honest and vulnerable with you all and I deeply believe in the power of sharing our stories to help us get through things and to help each other."

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.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.