Ex-tennis star gives update after suffering freak injury in Fernando Alonso Australian GP incident
Former world No 4 Jelena Dokic has confirmed that she is “all good” after she suffered a freak eye injury during qualifying for the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.
It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for former Wimbledon semi-finalist Dokic when two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso went off the track at Turn 10 in Melbourne on Saturday.
The Spaniard’s Aston Martin briefly ran into the gravel at Albert Park with debris flying everywhere before he made his way back onto the track.
Some of the gravel hit Dokic in the eye and she required treatment with a post shared a social media confirming that she had to have her eye flushed out by a medic in a Mercedes lounge.
The Australian added that it was “just a bloodshot and scratched eye” before joking “I can confirm that the makeup somehow stayed and didn’t come off”.
READ MORE: Former tennis star injured by debris from Fernando Alonso’s car at Australian Grand Prix
The former Wimbledon semi-finalist has given another update on Instagram to reveal that she is fine and didn’t suffer any serious damage to the eye.
“A quick little wrap up of the Formula 1 @ausgp weekend with @mercedesbenzau at their amazing AMG lounge,” she wrote. “Thank you @mercedesbenzau for having me. Had a blast.
“And for all those asking,my eye is all good.I am fine. Thank you for all the lovely messages.”
The Croatia-born Dokic made a name for herself at the age of 17 at Wimbledon in 2000 when she beat world No 1 Martina Hingis as a qualifier in the first round and went on to reach the semi-final.
She retired in 2014 with six singles titles to her name and in recent years she has been part of the Australian Open commentary team.
However, it is away from the court where she has shined as she has become a motivation speaker as she has opened up about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father and coach Damir during her playing career.
The 40-year-old has also battled social media trolls in recent years with many of her fat shaming her, but she has never shied away from the fight.
“I am here, fighting for all those out there being abused, fat shamed,” she wrote on a post.
“I can’t change the world but I am going to continue speaking up, calling this behaviour out, using my platform for something good and to support other people out there and to give others a voice and try to make others feel less alone and scared.”