Jelena Dokic cuddles up to mystery man at Melbourne Airport after revealing she feared 'being alone forever' following the breakdown of her 19-year relationship
While no romantic link has been confirmed between the pair, the elegant gent she met at Melbourne airport earlier this month certainly managed to put a smile on Jelena's face as the pair cuddled up together.
The 42-year-old sports commentator was seen exiting her flight and grinning broadly as she accepted a warm embrace from the bearded man as she entered the terminal.
Jelena, who took up an animated conversation with her companion as she stepped into the terminal, had dressed for comfort for her flight.
She wore a knitted white zip-up hoodie she matched with a grey T-shirt, blue pants split at the cuffs and runners.
Tying her fair hair up, the tennis legend carried her mobile device in one hand as she walked to her transport and completed her look with a pair of ear studs.
Wearing a formal dark suit, business shirt and matching striped tie, and black shoes, Jelena's companion was later seen carrying the athlete's luggage from the airport.
He completed his dashing look with wire-rimmed spectacles and appeared to be using a product in his slicked-back black hair which he parted at the side.
According to Woman's Day, who shared video of the pair on Tuesday, the man drove Jelena from the airport.
Late last year, Jelena revealed that she has been 'closed off' to finding love ever since she split from her long-time Brazilian boyfriend Tin Bikic.
The couple were together for almost 19 years before announcing they had ended their relationship in 2021.
Despite saying that her walls have been up ever since, Jelena took to Instagram to make the heartbreaking admission that she's 'scared of being alone' for the rest of her life.
'Love. It's been a challenging personal period. We don't talk about this enough but relationship breakdowns are so tough,' she said alongside a selfie.
'And if you have been the one left hurt or abandoned then let's be honest, it's just life shattering. And as you get older, it only gets tougher with more scars, pain and hurt.
'My 19-year relationship ended 4 years ago [sic] and while we will always care for each other especially because we were together since we were 20, that chapter is over.'
Jelena went on to say that she was 'built' to love one person 'unconditionally and so fully that it gets me in trouble'.
'It turns into heartbreak and pain,' she bemoaned. 'I put up walls 4 years ago and I said they are never coming down.
'But as life likes to show us, not everything we plan or think will happen actually does. So, of course, someone brought those walls down and I got hurt. Badly.
'So, I guess the question is: Do we keep our walls down and hope love comes along? Or? Do we never give it a chance again and don't allow the walls to come down?
'There are people that will have different answers. I have now been alone and closed off for 4 years and I still don't know what the answer is.'
The Australian tennis commentator said she now has 'a lot of abandonment issues' from her past, which make her 'feel like I will be alone forever'.
Jelena was referring to the horrendous abuse she suffered at the hands of her father and tennis coach Damir Dokic.
'Am I the only one scared of being alone for the rest of my life?' the media personality candidly asked her fans.
'Bringing walls down has also brought some feelings and triggers I never had before and I don't know how to react or what to do,' Jelena continued in the lengthy missive.
'Bottom line is it's tough and what do we do? Close ourselves off forever or get hurt and feel pain in order to one day maybe feel that unbelievable and crazy love again?''
Thankfully, Jelena ended her morose caption on a hopeful note, saying that she will 'not give up' on her search for love.
'I will never give up and one day those walls will come down again and hopefully the wait, pain, hurt and disappointment will be worth it and I will find that amazing love,' she said.
Jelena was left 'shattered' in the aftermath of her split from her long-time boyfriend Tin Bikic in 2021, revealing last year just how heartbroken she was.
She took to Instagram in August last year to mark the anniversary of their break up with some reflective words.
'Break ups of any kind are tough. They are heartbreaking, crushing, shattering and can change you forever,' she wrote.
Wearing a formal dark suit, business shirt and matching striped tie, and black shoes, Jelena's companion was later seen carrying the athlete's luggage from the airport
'It's important not to become angry and bitter and instead know those scars and wounds will heal one day and you will become a wiser, better and stronger person.
'My breakup left me crushed and changed me to my core. While I was shattered and it changed me forever, I handled it with kindness, understanding, grace and dignity.
'No screaming, anger or bitterness. And for that I am so proud of myself. Stay kind and positive.'
Jelena confirmed the news she and her Brazilian-born boyfriend had parted in a heartbreaking Instagram post back in January 2022.
Alongside a photo of the pair together with a rip graphic down the middle, she wrote: 'After almost 19 years together, Tin and I have decided to go our separate ways.
'Sometimes these things happen, people grow apart and it's for the best.'
At the time, Jelena admitted she was struggling emotionally and mentally with the split.
'Love. It's been a challenging personal period. We don't talk about this enough but relationship breakdowns are so tough,' she said
'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,' she wrote.
She then thanked her fans, friends and loved ones for their support and said she hopes to soon 'be back hopefully stronger than ever and in a much better place'.
The former world No. 4 was born in what was once Yugoslavia and her family moved to Australia when she was 11 years old.
Her tennis career peaked when she made the Wimbledon quarter finals in 1999 and semi finals in 2000, followed by the 2002 French Open quarter finals.
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