Tennis: Damir Dokic Hoping To Reconcile With Daughter Jelena
January 22nd 2009 23:50
Damir Dokic says he hasn't given up on reconciling with estranged daughter Jelena, and even believes he may one day coach Australia's tennis heroine again. Speaking from his home in Belgrade, Dokic tonight told AAP he would consider contacting Jelena after the Australian Open, where the former world No.4 has reached the third round for the first time.
Damir confirmed his relationship with Jelena had soured in the past few years since she left the family home in the Serbian capital to live in Zagreb with her boyfriend Tin Bikic and her coach, Bikic's brother Borna.
But he said he spoke to Jelena as recently as "about a month ago" and claimed the 25-year-old told him reconciliation was possible.
"Everything is possible," Damir said.
"I can't tell you for sure, but why not?"
Damir said he had not watched his daughter's second-round upset win over Russian seed Anna Chakvetadze, but had heard the result and was feeling proud.
"Of course I'm proud," he said.
Damir hasn't been back to Australia since taking Jelena and the rest of the family back to Serbia after believing the 2001 Open draw had been rigged to pit his daughter against defending champion Lindsay Davenport.
But he also refuses to rule out a return.
"Yeah maybe. Of course, why not? I like Australia," said tennis's most controversial father, who lived in Sydney for seven years during which Jelena rose to be the world's No.1 junior player.
Despite saying "I don't watch tennis", Damir continues to dream of building a complex in Serbia and coaching.
"My plan is to make one tennis club and start coaching again," he said.
"But I don't have a place for it in Belgrade."
Belgrade authorities and the sport's national federation have already blocked one proposal from Damir to build such a centre in the capital city.
In the meantime, he will continue doing what he does.
"I have a small business. I make brandy, the best thing of all," Damir said proudly.
"It's better than whisky, believe me."
But any chances of reconciliation, let alone an unlikely coaching reunion, appear to be resting solely in the hands of Jelena, who says she is extremely happy with her coaching arrangement.
"Sometimes you need a couple of people that you can trust.
"There's not too many of those around," she told the Seven Network on Thursday night.
The pointed remark seemed directed towards her overbearing father and came just three days after the tennis star opened up to journalists to reveal she still feels like she has "lost" her entire family.
"I don't talk to my father. I haven't for years. I talk to my mum. We're mending that relationship," she said.
"As soon as I left home, my relationship went down-hill with my dad.
"It went down-hill with my whole family."
AAP
Damir confirmed his relationship with Jelena had soured in the past few years since she left the family home in the Serbian capital to live in Zagreb with her boyfriend Tin Bikic and her coach, Bikic's brother Borna.
But he said he spoke to Jelena as recently as "about a month ago" and claimed the 25-year-old told him reconciliation was possible.
"Everything is possible," Damir said.
"I can't tell you for sure, but why not?"
Jelena Dokic, looking content again at the Australian Open, has expressed that she's found the love for tennis again. It is to be hoped no one comes along and destroys it for her...
Damir said he had not watched his daughter's second-round upset win over Russian seed Anna Chakvetadze, but had heard the result and was feeling proud.
"Of course I'm proud," he said.
Damir hasn't been back to Australia since taking Jelena and the rest of the family back to Serbia after believing the 2001 Open draw had been rigged to pit his daughter against defending champion Lindsay Davenport.
But he also refuses to rule out a return.
"Yeah maybe. Of course, why not? I like Australia," said tennis's most controversial father, who lived in Sydney for seven years during which Jelena rose to be the world's No.1 junior player.
Despite saying "I don't watch tennis", Damir continues to dream of building a complex in Serbia and coaching.
"My plan is to make one tennis club and start coaching again," he said.
"But I don't have a place for it in Belgrade."
Belgrade authorities and the sport's national federation have already blocked one proposal from Damir to build such a centre in the capital city.
In the meantime, he will continue doing what he does.
"I have a small business. I make brandy, the best thing of all," Damir said proudly.
"It's better than whisky, believe me."
But any chances of reconciliation, let alone an unlikely coaching reunion, appear to be resting solely in the hands of Jelena, who says she is extremely happy with her coaching arrangement.
"Sometimes you need a couple of people that you can trust.
"There's not too many of those around," she told the Seven Network on Thursday night.
The pointed remark seemed directed towards her overbearing father and came just three days after the tennis star opened up to journalists to reveal she still feels like she has "lost" her entire family.
"I don't talk to my father. I haven't for years. I talk to my mum. We're mending that relationship," she said.
"As soon as I left home, my relationship went down-hill with my dad.
"It went down-hill with my whole family."
AAP
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