Who Is Novak Djokovic’s Wife? All About Jelena Djokovic
Novak Djokovic is one of the biggest tennis stars in the world and has been married to his wife, Jelena Djokovic
As a humanitarian working to better the lives of disadvantaged kids in Serbia and a mom of two kids, Jelena keeps herself busy. However, she still finds time to cheer her husband on at many of his tennis matches.
In August 2024, the world watched Novak win his first-ever gold medal at the Paris Olympics. Following the major victory, the tennis player made a beeline for Jelena in the stands, where they hugged and kissed with tears in their eyes.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m still in shock. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold,” Novak said during a post-match interview. “At age 37, I finally did it.”
So, who is Novak’s longtime love? Here’s everything to know about Jelena Djokovic.
She and Novak met in high school
Jelena Ristic and Novak Djokovic attend The Novak Djokovic Foundation New York Dinner at Capitale on September 10, 2013 in New York City
ANDREW H. WALKER/GETTY
Jelena and Novak were together for several years before getting married in 2014. In fact, the two have known each other since they were young — they attended the same high school together in their home country of Serbia.
The pair first got together while attending and playing tennis at school, and dated for eight years before getting engaged in 2013 in Monte Carlo, where Novak was living at the time.
She went to college in Milan
Novak Djokovic and Jelena Ristic attend the Novak Djokovic Foundation inaugural London gala dinner at The Roundhouse on July 8, 2013 in London, England
TIM P. WHITBY/GETTY
Jelena and Novak were together as Novak’s tennis career was taking off, but Jelena had her own studies to focus on. She once told Hello! that she had always wanted to go to university abroad, adding that since her parents weren’t able to fund that kind of education, it “entailed me being the very best student in elementary and high school, in order to win scholarships.”
Her work paid off, and she ended up going to Bocconi University in Milan, where she studied luxury brand management.
Despite the long distance and their busy schedules, the pair found a way to make their romance work.
“Us getting together was like science fiction almost,” Jelena told Hello!. “I was a student barely getting by, and he was a very young tennis player who also had no money to spare on expensive trips.”
“Airplanes were, at the time, something utterly out of our reach,” she continued. “We contrived and devised these plans how to meet, how to make our relationship work.” When Jelena was done with college, the two moved in together in Monte Carlo, where she got a temporary job at an oil company.
She’s a humanitarian
Jelena Ristic and Novak Djokovic attend “The Beaver” Premiere during the 64th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2011 in Cannes, France
JEAN BAPTISTE LACROIX/FILMMAGIC
Not long after moving to Monte Carlo with Novak, Jelena ended up leaving her job at the oil company, telling Hello! she was at the office for so long that it was negatively affecting her relationship with Novak. “At certain point, Novak told me, ‘Darling, we cannot go on like this,’ ” she said.
After leaving her position, Jelena went on to act as the National Director of the couple’s charity organization, the Novak Djokovic Foundation. As she explained to HuffPost, Novak and his family created the organization in 2007 to help disadvantaged children in Serbia by giving them access to early childhood education.
Jelena has dabbled in some modeling as well. In 2013, she was announced as the face of lingerie and swimwear brand Figleaves.com.
They got married right after Novak won Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses with the mens replica trophy with his girlfriend Jelena Ristic at the Wimbledon Championships 2011 Winners Ball at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel on July 3, 2011 in London, England
CLIVE BRUNSKILL/GETTY
Jelena and Novak tied the knot in 2014, a little less than a week after Novak won his second Wimbledon championship. The ceremony took place in Sveti Stefan, a small coastal town in Montenegro.
PEOPLE reported at the time that the nuptials took place outdoors. The couple said their vows in a gazebo surrounded by pine trees while 100 guests looked on.
In July 2024, Jelena and Novak celebrated 10 years of marriage.
“Ten years of joy. Ten years of dreams. Ten years as one. Ten years of fun,” the tennis star wrote on Instagram. “Ten years of you. The best part of me. I love you forever.”
She’s a mom of two
Jelena Ristic and tennis player Novak Djokovic attend the “Killing Them Softly” Premiere during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 22, 2012 in Cannes, France
GEORGE PIMENTEL/WIREIMAGE
Jelena was pregnant with the couple’s first child when they tied the knot. On Oct. 22, 2014, she gave birth to their son, Stefan Djokovic.
Jelena gave birth to their daughter, Tara Djokovic, in September 2017. In an Instagram post announcing Tara’s birth, Novak wrote, “Very happy and proud to welcome our little girl Tara to our home. Jelena and I have been hand in hand on their journey and as a man, I have to send my love and admiration to every single women out there for going through so much pain and effort to create life, to bring life and raise a human being … what a blessing to have an opportunity to be a parent!”
He added, “Jelena and Tara are my angels, and Stefan is a proud big brother who wants to take part in baby chores.”
The couple’s family also includes two dogs — poodles named Pierre and Tesla that Jelena regularly show off on Instagram. In 2019, Pierre turned 11, and Jelena shared a tribute for the pup, saying, “forever our baby, forever my first boy.”
She’s very supportive of her husband
Novak Djokovic (L) of Serbia relaxes with his wife Jelena Djokovic (R) after the exhibition doubles match of the Adria Tour charity exhibition hosted by Novak Djokovic, on June 12, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia
SRDJAN STEVANOVIC/GETTY
As one of the biggest male tennis stars in the world, Novak lives an extremely busy lifestyle — and Jelena is there for him every step of the way. She once told the Daily Mail that although she gets “passionate” while watching Novak play, she has to be cautious about showing too much emotion.
“I have to be careful as I don’t want to get too emotional and distract Novak. It’s about what the guys want,” she says. “We don’t want them to see us get emotional. When I’m at home watching him on the TV, I get even more passionate because I know the cameras aren’t on me.”
Jelena has watched Novak win at Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the French Open and the U.S. Open, among many other major tournaments.
Novak Djokovic of Team Serbia celebrates victory in his players box during the Men’s Singles Gold medal match against Carlos Alcaraz
Novak Djokovic celebrates with his family after winning gold at the 2024 Olympics. MATTHEW STOCKMAN/GETTY IMAGES
In March 2021, Novak broke the record for most weeks as the world’s No. 1 tennis player.
“Celebrating Novak’s tennis LOVE AFFAIR that has been going on for quite some time…. And everyone knows about it (and wife doesn’t mind at all lol),” Jelena joked on Instagram at the time.
Novak now holds 24 Grand Slam singles titles and is a gold medalist. He achieved his longtime goal at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August 2024.
She stays active
Jelena has been known to spend time working out, especially with Novak! On Nov. 30, 2022, she posted a video of the couple hiking La Concha summit in Spain. The montage showed the two walking on paths and climbing rocks. “Boys…. This was quite a hike 💪🙌🏼,” she wrote in the caption.
“From freezing to melting, from bottom to the top and back down again… and we made it.”
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