Novak Djokovic, the tennis superstar, and his wife, Jelena Djokovic, have a love story that sounds like something out of a romantic movie. They were high school sweethearts, but keeping their relationship strong while one person traveled the world for tennis wasn’t always a walk in the park.
Jelena shared with Hello! magazine in June 2023 that their coming together felt almost like science fiction. She was a student struggling to get by. Novak was a very young tennis player, and he didn’t have money for expensive trips. Airplanes were completely out of reach for them back then. They had to figure out clever ways to meet up and make their relationship work.
While Jelena moved to Milan for university, Novak was busy traveling for tournaments. After Jelena finished school, they finally settled down together in Monaco. They got engaged in 2013 and tied the knot the very next year. This special day happened just days after Novak won his second Wimbledon title. Their family grew quickly; their first child, Stefan, arrived three months later, followed by their daughter, Tara, in September 2017.
In June 2022, Novak, who has grabbed an amazing 23 Grand Slam titles during his career, had nothing but good things to say about Jelena. He praised how she always manages to be there for him. During a Wimbledon interview right on the court, Novak fondly called his wife "the wolf runner," referring to himself by his nickname. He admitted that running with the wolf can be very stressful and that he knows she doesn’t always enjoy it. Still, his message was clear: "I love her, she is my great support."
From Friendship to Forever
Their journey began in the early 2000s when they were still in high school. They started as friends, often playing tennis together. After a few years, their friendship blossomed into a full-blown romance around 2005.
The world truly began to take notice of Novak in 2008. At just 20 years old, he won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. This win was a big deal because it broke the long winning streak of legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Jelena was right there in the crowd, cheering him on every step of the way.
A Grand Proposal and Wedding Bells
After eight years of dating, Novak finally popped the question to Jelena in Monte Carlo in 2013. The following year, in July 2014, the happy couple exchanged vows. Their wedding was a private ceremony held in Montenegro, just a few days after Novak celebrated his second victory at Wimbledon.
Jelena told Hello! magazine about the emotional day. She saw Novak with tears in his eyes and started crying herself right away. She felt incredibly happy, and being pregnant probably made it even harder to keep her emotions in check. She expressed how blessed she felt to have him in her life, saying she couldn’t ask for a better partner. Novak, on his part, sweetly shared with the magazine that his wife looked like an "angel." He tried his best to be fully present and remember every moment, focusing on her, her smile, and their baby. He described it as a truly perfect moment.
Building Their Family
Their joy continued to multiply. In October 2014, Jelena gave birth to their first child, Stefan. Novak took to his Facebook page to share the news, writing, "Stefan, our little angel, was born! I’m so proud of my beautiful wife Jelena. Thank you all so much for your love and support. We love you all!"
Three years later, in September 2017, they welcomed their second child, a daughter named Tara. Novak poured out his feelings on Instagram, sharing a photo of the couple holding their baby’s hand. He wrote how happy and proud he was to bring little Tara home. He also spoke of how he and Jelena had walked this path hand-in-hand, and as a man, he wanted to send his love and admiration to every woman who goes through so much pain and effort to create, bring, and raise a human life. He called it a blessing to be a father. He added that Jelena and Tara were his angels, and Stefan was a proud big brother eager to help with baby duties.
Celebrations and Love Notes
Life continued to be a mix of Grand Slam wins and family moments. In June 2023, after securing his 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, Novak rushed to the stands. He shared a passionate kiss with his wife, a moment that captured hearts everywhere. Jelena posted a simple yet sweet message on Instagram: "23 💕🎉🪷", along with a photo of Novak from the match and a tender picture of their family on the court.
Then, in June 2024, Novak shared a heartfelt message to Jelena for their tenth wedding anniversary. He posted a collection of their photos on Instagram, writing a lovely poem: "Ten years of joy, ten years of dreams, ten years as islands, ten years as streams. Ten years as parents, ten years as one, ten years of dances, ten years of fun. Ten years of yoga, ten years stretching, ten years of dogs, ten years fetching. Ten years of tennis, ten years of balls, ten years of triumphs, ten years of falls. Ten years as teammates, ten years together, ten years Jelena, I love you forever. I love you."
In January 2025, Novak and Jelena posted a joint message on Instagram, wishing their followers a Merry Christmas. The message, translated, read: "Peace of God, Christ is born! Merry Christmas 🎄🙏🏻"