Jelena Dokic has returned to work on Channel 9’s coverage of the US Open after the Aussie tennis commentator revealed she’d been hospitalised this week. The much-loved former tennis player has been in the studio for Channel 9 this week covering the US Open for the Australian audience.
But she revealed on Friday that she’d wound up in hospital after not feeling well. Dokic posted a photo from her hospital bed with a drip in her arm after “something felt off” while she was working.
The former World No.4 said doctors had discovered a non-cancerous growth in her uterus that will eventually require surgery at a later date. “Thankful that I will be ok,” she wrote. “But just wanted to post this as a reminder and caution for our health especially women and our reproductive health.
Jelena Dokic used her platform to send an important message after ending up in hospital. Image: Jelena Dokic
“I have a pretty big fibroid (non-cancerous growth in my uterus). It was dismissed as nothing major (a lot of women have it and live with it). Apparently. Whatever that means.
“And while that can be the case, yes, a lot of cases will also be affected more than others by the size of it, pain, flare ups and bleeding. Which is what happened to me. I will need surgery later this year to remove it. But in the meantime it’s about managing pain, heavy bleeding and flare ups.”
Jelena Dokic said something felt off while she was covering the US Open for Channel 9. Image: Jelena Dokic
Fans send flood of support to Jelena Dokic
Dokic used her platform to send an important reminder. “It’s all been ok until now but the last few months something felt off. Something wasn’t right. So I want this post to be an important reminder,” she added. “Follow your instincts and gut feeling. If something feels off, don’t ignore it.
“Even if it ends up being nothing, it’s better to be safe than something going really wrong later. Do your regular check ups and any kind of even the slightest pain or something out of the ordinary go straight to your doctor. Don’t ignore pain and regular check ups are crucial for early detection and can save your life.
“And most importantly never allow anyone to tell you that it’s nothing, how you should be feeling and always get a second opinion and fight for yourself and your health. You know yourself best and if there is pain or something is off and someone dismisses it, go to another person and don’t take no for an answer when it comes to scans, tests and check ups. You will always be your own best advocate for your health. So fight for yourself and don’t take no for answer.”
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Dokic also sent a “massive thank you” to the staff at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. “The work you do is incredible and thank you for taking care of me and making sure I was ok in the best and fastest way possible,” she added.
Fans sent a flood of messages wishing Dokic the best and hoping for a speedy recovery. One person wrote: “Take care of yourself Jelena.” Another commented: “Hope you are ok. Thinking of you.”
Dokic was back in the studio on Saturday morning, saying she was “so happy to be doing better.” She wrote on Instagram: “Still need to be cautious but on the mend. Thank you all so much for your messages over the last 48 hours. It means the world to me and I am so grateful to you all.”
Ben Shelton and Emma Raducanu out of US Open
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz surged into the fourth round of the US Open on Friday, but America’s hopes of ending a 22-year wait for a men’s champion suffered a blow when sixth seed Ben Shelton was forced to retire hurt against Adrian Mannarino. Shelton was leading 6-3 3-6 6-4 when he clutched at his shoulder in pain and eventually retired after Mannarino took the fourth set.
In the women’s draw, former Wimbledon champions Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova powered towards a last-16 showdown, with Vondrousova delivering a shock of sorts when she knocked out seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7-4) 6-1. Rybakina also sent a timely reminder of her credentials as she dismantled former champion Emma Raducanu 6-1 6-2.
Dream run of Priscilla Hon comes to an end
And the fairytale run of Aussie qualifier Priscilla Hon is over after a fighting straight-sets loss to American player Ann Li in the third round. Hon battled hard before succumbing 7-5 6-3 at Flushing Meadows, having reached the last 32 of a grand slam for the first time in her career.
She won three matches in qualifying just to make the main draw in New York, and then produced two remarkable victories in the tournament proper. Her rewards for beating Russian World No.20 Liudmila Samsonova and higher-ranked Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean are a rise to a career-best No.106 and a life-changing $US237,000 ($A363,000) pay day.
with agencies