Jelena Dokic’s father Damir was once banned from the US Open after his heated altercation with a line cook in the players’ cafeteria. The controversial incident took place during the 2000 edition of the New York Major.
Jelena Dokic’s campaign at the 2000 US Open was marred by her father-cum-coach’s contentious conduct. Damir had gained a reputation for his unruly behavior at major tournaments, having attacked a cameraman at the Australian Open earlier that year and been escorted off the grounds at Wimbledon by police after smashing a reporter’s phone.
Damir’s belligerent conduct continued at the New York Major as he launched into an expletive-laden tirade directed at line cook Mattie Jones. His anger was triggered by his dissatisfaction with the portion size and price of the $12.50 salmon entree dish in the players’ cafeteria.
already endured his abusive behavior on previous days, described Jelena Dokic’s father as “nasty” and revealed that she had notified her manager of his impending “explosion” after noticing the warning signs.
“He’s so nasty I don’t even like to serve him. I could tell he was going to explode, and I was looking for my manager,” Jones said (via the New York Times).
During his heated tirade, Damir cursed at Jones and insulted her by calling her a cow.
“He was calling me a cow. He was just really going off,” she added.
Mattie Jones’ manager promptly alerted the US Open’s head of security, who arrived to remove the Australian’s father from the premises. However, Damir refused to go quietly, hurling his credential badge at an official and even shoving the tournament director.
Jelena Dokic, who was only 17 years old at the time, cut a sorry figure as she witnessed her father scream obscenities at the head of security, breaking down in tears.
The father-daughter duo was eventually escorted from the US Open grounds and taken back to the hotel. Subsequently, the USTA revoked Damir’s credentials and banned him from the tournament grounds.
“Swollen, bruised and bleeding” – Jelena Dokic on being physically abused by her father Damir after 2000 US Open exit
Jelena Dokic herself was not spared from her father Damir’s abusive tendencies, opening up about the physical and mental abuse she suffered at the hands of her father in her 2017 book ‘Unbreakable.’
In April 2023, the Australian shared an emotional Instagram post about domestic violence, including harrowing pictures depicting her father’s violence. She recounted being left “swollen, bruised, and bleeding” after crashing out of the 2000 US Open in the fourth round with a 7-6(7), 6-0 loss to Serena Williams.
“Swollen, bruised and bleeding shins from being beaten and kicked all night with sharp shoes right into my shins for losing a match. These images were taken more than 2 weeks later and I was still heavily bruised. I was 17 years old. To this day I still have sensitive and bumpy shins from this beating,” she posted on Instagram.
Jelena Dokic also used her platform to raise awareness about the issue of domestic violence, calling for the removal of the “shame” and “stigma” associated with it so that victims could seek help without fear.
