Unbreakable

by Jelena Dokic

Paperback, 2019

Status

Available

Publication

Ebury Australia (2019), Edition: None, 320 pages

Description

This is a story of Jelena Dokic's survival. How she survived as a refugee, twice. How she survived on the tennis court to become world No. 4. But, most importantly, how she survived her father, Damir Dokic, the tennis dad from hell. Jelena was a prodigious talent, heralded as Australia's greatest tennis hope since Evonne Goolagong. She had exceptional skills, a steely nerve and an extraordinary ability to fight on the court. Off it she endured huge challenges; being an 'outsider' in her new country, poverty and racism. Still she starred on the tennis court. By 18, she was in the world's top 10. By 19, she was No. 4. The world was charmed by her and her story - a refugee whose family had made Australia home when she was eleven years old. Jelena has not told a soul her incredible, explosive story in full - until now. From war-torn Yugoslavia to Sydney to Wimbledon, she narrates her hellish ascent to becoming one of the best tennis players in the women's game, and her heart-breaking fall from the top. Her gutsy honesty will leave you in awe. Her fight back from darkness will uplift you. Most of all, Jelena's will to survive will inspire you.… (more)

Rating

½ (8 ratings; 3.6)

User reviews

LibraryThing member PhilipJHunt
We watched this young woman appear to destroy her tennis game and her reputation in bizarre behaviour and mystifying defence of her father. We knew there must be more to the story than appeared on the surface. Now we have the story, faithfully ghosted by Jessica Halloran that allows us to to
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understand. The egregious tale of violence, by a father upon a child, the basest betrayal and abuse of power, this was the behind-closed-doors reality that, almost, broke a champion. A sobering read. Worth the effort.
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LibraryThing member Faradaydon
What a story! Well-told account of a young girl's climb to almost the top of women's tennis and the horrors she had to endure at the hands of her father.

Awards

Australian Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — Biography — 2018)
Prime Minister's Literary Award (Shortlist — Nonfiction — 2018)

Language

Original language

English

ISBN

0143784242 / 9780143784241
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