logo
Tennis world blown away as Jelena Dokic makes brave move amid 'difficult' time

Tennis world blown away as Jelena Dokic makes brave move amid 'difficult' time

Yahoo27-05-2025
Tennis fans are showering Jelena Dokic with praise after the Aussie icon made a brave return to work with Channel 9 this week following the death of her father. Dokic revealed last week that estranged father Damir had died at the age of 67.
Dokic hadn't spoken to her father for 10 years, and has spoken publicly on numerous occasions about some of the shocking abuse he inflicted on her. The former World No.4 admitted to "conflicting and complex" feelings about Damir's death and said "it's never easy losing a parent and a father, even one you are estranged from."
She wrote in a social media post: "As you know my relationship with my father has been difficult and painful with a lot of history. Despite everything and no matter how hard, difficult and in the last 10 years even non existent our relationship and communication was, it is never easy losing a parent and a father even one you are estranged from.
"The loss of an estranged parent comes with a difficult and complicated grief. It's an end of a chapter and life as I know it. There are lots of conflicting and complex emotions and feelings for me.
"For the end of this chapter, I choose to focus on a good memory like this picture. And as always and especially important to who I am as a person and what I want to stand for which is respect, grace, kindness, dignity and empathy, I will and want to be that person in this situation too."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by JELENA DOKIC 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (@dokic_jelena)
Considering the difficult time she'd be going through, Dokic could be forgiven for shying away from the public spotlight. But she was back at work with Channel 9 on Sunday night, leading the network's coverage of the French Open at Roland Garros.
Fans flocked to social media to commend Dokic on the brave move. One person wrote: "Thank God she is BACK." While another commented: "Hope you are going ok working after your recent loss, thinking of you and sending love."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by JELENA DOKIC 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (@dokic_jelena)
It was a mixed night for the Aussies on the second day at Roland Garros, with Ajla Tomljanovic, Alexei Popyrin and Daria Kasatkina winning through. But the Aussie contingent lost Aleksandar Vukic, Chris O'Connell, Daria Saville, Kim Birrell and Jordan Thompson.
Tomljanovic turned the tables on compatriot Maya Joint, winning 6-1 6-3 after retiring hurt against Joint on her march to the Morocco Open title last weekend. Asked if she had a point to prove, Tomljanovic explained: "My coach kind of gave me a really good pep talk - 'You've got to get angry, get determined' - and it really worked today.
"Maya had been playing so well, I had a few days to think about it and knew if I don't come out this way on the attack, it's going to be really tough. It's just nice to see everything pay off when I play the right way."
Kastakina, playing her first grand slam tournament since switching allegiance from Russia in March, got the better of Czech opponent Katerina Siniakova, 6-1 3-6 6-2. And Popyrin ended a run of five-straight opening-round losses at Roland Garros when Yoshihito Nishioka retired hurt while trailing 5-7 4-6 2-1.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Momentous for sport': Rugby star praised for withdrawing from team due to concussion symptoms
‘Momentous for sport': Rugby star praised for withdrawing from team due to concussion symptoms

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

‘Momentous for sport': Rugby star praised for withdrawing from team due to concussion symptoms

Irish rugby star Garry Ringrose has been praised after he withdrew from the British and Irish Lions squad for Saturday's second test against Australia after experiencing concussion symptoms. The 30-year-old had initially been selected in the starting lineup but approached head coach Andy Farrell on Thursday to report his symptoms. Advertisement Ringrose has 67 Ireland caps but he is making his first tour appearance with the Lions, a team comprising players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The tours take place every four years and rotate between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. A concussion caused Ringrose to miss Saturday's 27-19 win over Australia. The centre returned on Tuesday in the 24-19 over the First Nations and Pasifika XV (a team made up of players of First Nations, Maori and Pacific Island heritage), coming on as a substitute in the 65th minute. Farrell said on Thursday that Ringrose had been picked to start on Saturday but after training, he withdrew from selection due to persistent effects from the concussion. Huw Jones will now partner Bundee Aki in midfield. 'It's head-related again, so I actually don't know at this stage (what's happened),' Farrell said at a press conference. 'It was literally as I was walking off the field, he came to me, and once it's mentioned, that's that. 'There was no incident, he was feeling good well in advance of Tuesday, fit and ready to play. No incident through the game at all, nothing yesterday and nothing this morning at all. 'But with these things, players are getting very good at telling the truth of how they feel. So it was a no-brainer to make the change straight away.' Lions captain Maro Itoje called Ringrose's actions 'selfless', with Farrell adding: 'It was very big of him and the right thing to do, 100 per cent. For the team as well, not just for Garry.' Headway, the brain injury charity, described Ringrose's decision as 'momentous for sport'. 'By flagging the ongoing effects of his brain injury, he has put the team first by stepping aside — allowing a fully-fit team-mate to take his place in one of the most high-stakes matches of the tour,' the charity said in a statement on Thursday. Advertisement 'By recognising the risks of playing while concussed, Ringrose has rightly prioritised his own health. In doing so, he is also setting an incredible example to other sportspeople at all levels. 'His act shows how far sport has come in understanding the short- and long-term implications of not treating concussion — or brain injury — with respect. 'It also highlights how difficult it is for medics to accurately assess players for the concussion — both in the immediate aftermath of a collision, and then the lingering effects, which can last for months. 'It takes players to be open and honest, admitting when they do not feel right. It takes incredible bravery, but it's a decision that could make such a difference to his long-term health.' Luke Griggs, chief executive of Headway, added: 'Garry's decision is incredibly brave. It's also selfless and potentially transformative in the way sportspeople at all levels consider brain injury. 'In doing so, not only has he protected himself from a potentially much more serious brain injury, but he's also set an incredible example for others. 'Looking after yourself and looking after your team are not mutually exclusive. No concussed player will be an effective team-mate, and no game is more important than your long-term health.' World Rugby launched a brain health campaign in November 2021 'to educate and support current and former elite players who might be concerned about their wellbeing and brain health'. Former France international Sebastien Chabal said this year that he cannot 'remember a single second' of his career. Now 47, Chabal appeared 62 times for France between 2000 and 2011, helping them win the 2007 Six Nations Championship.

O'Connor climbs to 'brutal' Alpine stage win as Pogacar tightens grip on Tour
O'Connor climbs to 'brutal' Alpine stage win as Pogacar tightens grip on Tour

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

O'Connor climbs to 'brutal' Alpine stage win as Pogacar tightens grip on Tour

Ben O'Connor won stage 18 of the Tour de France with a world-class climb over three Alpine mountains on Thursday as defending champion Tadej Pogacar tightened his grip on the yellow jersey. Australian O'Connor, 29, took off alone 15km from the finish and navigated the mountain mist to win 1min 45sec ahead of Pogacar atop the Col de la Loze. Vingegaard crossed the line in third place, nine seconds behind the Slovenian. "It was brutal, I've never lived anything so hard. The team did well and we had a good plan, but I couldn't take any time off Tadej," said Vingegaard. Pogacar now holds a 4min 26sec lead over the Dane in the general classification with three days to go before the finish in Paris. Starting the day with a deficit of 4min 15sec, Vingegaard had attacked a massive 71km out. "Our tactics fell apart when they attacked so soon," said Pogacar explaining he simply tracked his rival on instinct. Pogacar eventually dropped the Dane near the finish line to gain another 11sec on the Team Visma rider who won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France. O'Connor, from the Jayco-Alula team, said he was relieved to triumph again four years after his success in the Alps at Tignes. "Putting your hands in the air is an extraordinary thing. It was about time for me being an Aussie rider in an Aussie team," said a beaming O'Connor, who joined Jayco in January. "I had to go from the bottom of the valley before the last climb. It was the only way to beat them. Pogacar said O'Connor had put in a great ride. "Congrats to Ben. How he rode today, that's his victory." - Last chance - Team UAE's Pogacar is now on the cusp of a fourth Tour de France title, after reversing the roles and sitting on Vingegaard's wheel, wasting little energy. He remained vigilant however. "It's not over, there's three days left. It's so long this three weeks thing. You get annoyed with everybody by the third week. You need good legs and good luck and only then is it okay," added Pogacar. German breakout star Florian Lipowitz wilted near the end in his bid for both third place and the white jersey awarded to the best young rider. The 22-year-old British rider Oscar Onley closed to within 22 seconds. Both riders are making their Tour de France debut. After 10 opening days of rolling terrain in the north and west of France where Pogacar and Vingegaard kept a watchful eye on each other as emerging riders stole the headlines, the real fight began in week two. Pogacar attacked Vingegaard on the first mountain, taking over two minutes out of him on one climb as things looked grim for the Slovenian's rivals. It was a costly off day for Vingegaard as in retrospect this was where Pogacar made the real difference in the race. The following day on a time-trial Pogacar whacked another 40sec into the Visma star who did however take over four minutes off the Slovenian on a single stage to win the 2023 Tour. Friday's majestic five-mountain slog amid the imposing panoramas between Albertville and La Plaigne will be the last chance for a reversal of fortunes with 60km of steep slopes to negotiate. The race ends Sunday in Paris with the finish line at the Champs Elysees after three climbs to the Sacre Coeur Basilica along the cobbled lanes of Montmartre. dmc/ea

Jannik Sinner, Ralph Lauren, Rolex Generated the Highest Media Value at Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner, Ralph Lauren, Rolex Generated the Highest Media Value at Wimbledon

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Jannik Sinner, Ralph Lauren, Rolex Generated the Highest Media Value at Wimbledon

SINNER, WINNER: The 2025 Wimbledon Championships may have ended Sunday, but their impact continues online. According to data from Launchmetrics, the data research and insights company for fashion, luxury and beauty, the tennis tournament had a media impact value of $1.1 billion, a 23 percent increase from last year's championships. More from WWD Tom Sachs' Nike Mars Yard 3.0 Will Require You to Participate in 'Summer Camp' Challenges to Purchase Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella Names Ludivine Pont CEO Why CEO Pay Is Always Moving Higher in Fashion - and Corporate America Ralph Lauren, Wimbledon's official outfitter since 2006, topped the list with the highest media value of all the brands present — $22.5 million — a 20 percent increase year-on-year. The American brand hosted luncheons in its suite and dressed celebrities ranging from Andrew Garfield to Monica Barbaro and Olivia Rodrigo throughout the two weeks of the tournament. Kate Middleton also made the cut. Her attendance at Wimbledon generated $36 million in media impact value. Her custom Self-Portrait dress alone had a media impact value of $918,000, boosting the brand's presence by 17 percent when compared to data from the same period last year. Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis player who ranks as the world number one, and who won the men's singles title, was also a winner off-court. He generated a total of $9.1 million in media impact value. Some $4.7 million of that came from Rolex after he lifted the Wimbledon trophy wearing the brand's Cosmograph Daytona. Some $4.4 million came from Nike, for which he's been an ambassador since 2019. According to Launchmetrics, Sinner's Instagram post of him holding the Wimbledon trophy was the top-performing placement overall for the tournament. His single post, where he tagged Rolex and Nike, generated $1.4 million in media impact value and has accumulated 1.8 million likes so far. The tennis star is also a Gucci ambassador and throughout the tournament carried his Gucci duffel bag onto the grass court generating $525,000 in media impact value. In another report, from WeArisma, an influencer analytics company, Gucci ranked fourth for earned media value, bringing in $571,300. The Italian brand stayed under the radar with its activations during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, but in the lead up to the sporting event Gucci hosted a dinner with Sinner that was attended by Paul Mescal, Erin Doherty, Fionn O'Shea, Joe Keery, Naomi Ackie and George MacKay. The Gucci store on New Bond Street changed its window display to a tennis theme to showcase their tennis line, which includes a collaboration with the American tennis racket brand Head. Best of WWD Fashion Meets Cinema: Jaws 50th Anniversary and Calvin Klein Spring 2019 RTW Show Retro Glamour: Giorgio Di Sant'Angelo's Summer 1973 Chic Straw Hat Statement The Story Behind Jackie Kennedy's Cartier Watch: A Royal Gift With 'Traces and Clues of Her Life' Revealed Solve the daily Crossword

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store