A decade ago, Jelena Dokic could 'barely speak'. She just delivered a 'spine-tingling' speech.

A decade ago, Jelena Dokic struggled with a level of self-doubt and emotional trauma so deep that speaking in public seemed impossible. Now, the Australian tennis icon has delivered one of the most memorable speeches of the year.

Without just a single note in front of her, Dokic addressed the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

Dokic, who moved to Australia with her family when she was 11, has previously alleged that her father physically and mentally abused her regularly throughout her career, starting from the moment she picked up a racket at six years old.

Watch: Jelena Dokic on her father's abuse. Post continues after video.

"I would take 100 years of abuse if I could take back not playing for Australia for a few years," Dokic reflected during her speech, referring to the period when her father coerced her to switch allegiances from Australia to Yugoslavia.

Her decision to play for Yugoslavia, which was met with public outrage, haunted her for years.

"He took from me the time with my country, with my people, with my home," she shared.

But in her speech, there was no anger or bitterness. Instead, Dokic emphasised her commitment to forgiveness.

"I don't hate him," she said. "There is no hate, bitterness, or resentment."

Dokic also reflected on the time eleven years ago when she was "deep in depression".

"I had no social skills left. Couldn't string two sentences together. Couldn't look people in the eye. Trust me I didn't know I could write or speak," she said.

Yet, despite the crushing weight of her mental health struggles, she pushed forward.

"There was only one or two people who believed in me reinventing myself, being a commentator, being on TV, being a speaker, writing books, maybe helping others," Dokic said.

"That is all you need sometimes. You just need that door opened. All you need is one person to believe in you. You can be that for someone. I felt the power of it."

Now a respected voice in sports commentary, particularly as an expert on Channel Nine, Dokic reflected on her progress with pride.

"Today, I can't shut up. I'm known at Channel 9 as someone who can talk underwater," she joked.

Her commentary career, which she initially entered with hesitation, has also been an opportunity to speak from the heart. Always focused on kindness and authenticity, Dokic strives to maintain positive about fellow sports stars.

"You will never hear me say a bad word about a player who walks off the court after losing 6-0, 6-0," she explained.

Through her books, documentaries, and public speaking, Dokic's mission has been clear: to use her story to inspire others, particularly those struggling with their own mental health.

"I want to set an example that I stood in the face of hardship and adversity," she said.

"We need to create safe spaces in environments and call out bad behaviour. We need to stop the shame, stigma, and judgement."

She also encouraged listeners to be resilient, even in the darkest of times.

"Never give up on your goals but most importantly on yourselves. If there's one thing I can leave behind, to my country, my people, my home, and my Australia, please listen," she said.

"Please learn and be open to the conversations, please let's not be silent about things.

"So, if I could leave you with one thing — sharing my story, telling the truth, not being silent, and speaking up saved my life. No shame, no judgement, no stigma, but also no silence."

The empassioned speech earned Dokic a standing ovation from the moved audience.

It comes a month after the tennis star said that viewers will struggle to watch her new feature film documenting her traumatic life.

"They'll find it horrific and very difficult and disturbing, but that's what it's about," Dokic told The Herald Sun about the Australian-made documentary.

Titled Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story, the "heartbreaking" doco confronts viewers with personal accounts of the violent abuse Dokic allegedly endured at the hands of her father and former tennis coach, Damir.

In what The Herald Sun described as "one of the most chilling scenes in the film", Dokic recounts one of the attacks by her drunken father after she lost a match.

"I remember he was so mad that he goes into the bathroom with me, locks the door, and he beat the crap out of me.

"He slammed my head against the wall multiple times. He was kicking me. My shins were so bruised, I couldn't walk," she claimed.

"He actually punches me in the head. And then I went unconscious for a little bit. He also stepped on my head as well."

The tennis legend made multiple attempts to reconcile with her abusive father over the years, but abandoned the idea when he didn't show any remorse or apologise for his alleged actions.

Dokic's openness about the trauma she endured at the hands of her father has resonated with many, but she is not simply a figure of past suffering — she is an example of the power of transformation.

If you or anyone you know have experienced targeted violence, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a Queensland-based organisation that helps women and families move on after the devastation of domestic violence. If you would like to support their mission to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most, you can donate here. You can also donate to their Christmas Appeal here.

Feature Image: Instagram/@dokic_jelena