Jelena Dokic has announced her split from her partner of 18 and a half years, Tin Bikic.
The tennis champion, 38, shared the news that she and her Brazilian-born boyfriend had parted in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Saturday.
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.'
Over: Jelena Dokic has announced her split from her partner of 18 and a half years, Tin Bikic. The tennis champion, 38, shared the news that she and her Brazilian boyfriend had parted in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Saturday. Both pictured
Jelena went on: 'I am asking you please to refrain yourselves from making bad comments about us and our 18 and a half years together and I especially ask those who want to make nasty comments based on nationality and religion to please not do that. This has nothing to do with that and it never did.'
The athlete went on to admit that she was struggling emotionally and mentally with the split.
'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.
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'
'I gave this relationship my all, my heart and soul and I fought so hard till the end but ultimately it wasn't enough this time but I am hopeful that there is still happiness and love somewhere out there waiting for me.
'This is hard, I am in pain, I am hurt, I am lost and right now it's all about just being able to get out of bed in the morning and putting one foot in front of the other.'
She added: 'I am a fighter and I will fight till the end. My strength and the will to go on and live will be tested again but I have done it before so I hope I can do it again.
'This is hard, I am in pain, I am hurt, I am lost and right now it's all about just being able to get out of bed in the morning and putting one foot in front of the other' she wrote. Pictured together in 2011
'I wish Tin all the best and I hope he finds what he is looking for.'
Jelena then thanked her fans, friends and loved ones for their support and says she hopes to 'be back hopefully stronger than ever and in a much better place'.
Just least year, when speaking to Good Health & Wellbeing, the former tennis star said that marriage and children were in her and Tin's future.
'Marriage is on the list,' she revealed. 'And while we're not planning on having kids right now, it's one of the things that is very important.'
Plans: Just least year the former tennis star said that marriage and children were in her and Tin's future. 'Marriage is on the list,' she revealed. 'And while we're not planning on having kids right now, it's one of the things that is very important'. Pictured in 2013
'I want to raise my children very differently from how I was raised.'
She also credited Tin as 'bringing her back from the brink' in regards to her mental health.
'He's gone through so much with me. We're a bit unusual in that we got together when we were 20, and 17 years on we're still together,' she said at the time.
Credit: She also credited Tin as 'bringing her back from the brink' in regards to her mental health. 'He's gone through so much with me. We're a bit unusual in that we got together when we were 20, and on we're still together,' Jelena said at the time
'He's really supportive and just wants me to be healthy, for me, for us, and for our future. Throughout he has never been judgmental or critical.'
News of the split comes two weeks after Jelena revealed she was taking time off social media as she struggles through a 'tough period' in her life.
The champion shared a post to Instagram after she was absent from the platform for over a month.
'I am sure you have all noticed that I have been absent from social media for a while now,' she began her explanation to fans.
Away: News of the split comes two weeks after Jelena revealed she was taking time off social media as she struggles through a 'tough period' in her life
'Thank you for all your messages of concern and care for me. I really appreciate it. I am going through a very tough period in my life right now and a huge change and I just need some time to recover, heal and process the pain and trauma that I am going through,' Dokic continued.
'I know a lot of you have written to me and I haven't replied but just know that I do see your messages and I appreciate them very much but I am not in a good space right now to reply and communicate with you all like I usually do and I am so sorry for that.
'The same goes for posting so I will be staying off Instagram for a little while longer. I know so many of you look forward to my posts and find so much inspiration in them and I am so sorry I can't provide that for you right now.
'Thank you for all your messages of concern and care for me. I really appreciate it. I am going through a very tough period in my life right now and a huge change and I just need some time to recover,' Dokic wrote at that time
'And to those that have told me that in person and stopped me on the street to tell me how much I and my posts inspire you. Thank you. Please know that I love you all and I am very grateful for all your support and love.'
She concluded: 'To my friends and the people close to me that know what I am going through. Thank you for all your love and care. Don't know what I would do without you and you know who you are.
'I will be back and I will be back stronger than ever even if it doesn't feel like that right now but I will be back. I always am and I know the sun will shine again. Thank you for your understanding'.
'I will be back and I will be back stronger than ever even if it doesn't feel like that right now but I will be back. I always am and I know the sun will shine again. Thank you for your understanding,' she added
In October, the athlete reflected on her past struggles with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in an Instagram post for World Mental Health Day.
At the time, she shared a photo of herself during a challenging time where she almost 'ended' her life.
Revealing that she's now
