'I am in pain': Jelena Dokic makes heartbreaking personal reveal

Former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic has announced on social media that she has split up with her long-term boyfriend after more than 18 years together.

Dokic said she “would be lying if I said I was doing well” after confirming the heartbreaking news that she and Tin Bikic had broken up.

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The player-turned-commentator shared the devastating news with her followers on Instagram, posting a photo of her and Bikic with a rip down the middle and a message urging the public to refrain from making nasty comments about the break-up.

“Sometimes these things happen, people grow apart and it’s for the best,” Dokic wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of her and Bilic with a rip down the middle.

“I am asking you please to refrain yourselves from making bad comments about us and our 18 and a half years together and I especially ask those who want to make nasty comments based on nationality and religion to please not do that. This has nothing to do with that and it never did. Negative comments don’t help anyone especially me so please be respectful and kind.

“I would be lying if I said I was doing well but I will give it my absolute all to heal and recover and process this pain and trauma and if nothing else I will die trying.

“I gave this relationship my all, my heart and soul and I fought so hard till the end but ultimately it wasn’t enough this time but I am hopeful that there is still happiness and love somewhere out there waiting for me.

“This is hard, I am in pain, I am hurt, I am lost and right now it’s all about just being able to get out of bed in the morning and putting one foot in front of the other.

“I will have to learn to walk again before I can run when it comes to love and happiness but I will give this healing process my all.

“I am a fighter and I will fight till the end. My strength and the will to go on and live will be tested again but I have done it before so I hope I can do it again.”

The former World No.4 said she hoped Bikic "finds what he is looking for” and wished her ex “all the best” in the future, while calling on the public to respect their privacy.

“I will be back hopefully stronger than ever and in a much better place," the 38-year-old added.

Jelena Dokic has been through a 'tough period'

It comes after Dokic last month revealed that she was going through a “very tough period” in her life as she undergoes a “huge change”.

“I am sure you have all noticed that I have been absent from social media for a while now,” Dokic wrote.

“Thank you for all your messages of concern and care for me. I really appreciate it.

“I am going through a very tough period in my life right now and a huge change and I just need some time to recover, heal and process the pain and trauma that I am going through.

“I know a lot of you have written to me and I haven’t replied but just know that I do see your messages and I appreciate them very much but I am not in a good space right now to reply and communicate with you all like I usually do and I am so sorry for that.

“The same goes for posting so I will be staying off Instagram for a little while longer. I know so many of you look forward to my posts and find so much inspiration in them and I am so sorry I can’t provide that for you right now.

“And to those that have told me that in person and stopped me on the street to tell me how much I and my posts inspire you, thank you. Please know that I love you all and I am very grateful for all your support and love.

“To my friends and the people close to me that know what I am going through, thank you for all your love and care. Don’t know what I would do without you and you know who you are.

“I will be back and I will be back stronger than ever even if it doesn’t feel like that right now but I will be back. I always am and I know the sun will shine again. Thank you for your understanding.”

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