Serving up the Serbian Sweethearts: Novak and Jelena
The Stunning Djokovic’s This Past Summer at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Getty)
Today, Novak Djokovic is getting ready to take on Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, with his wonderful wife, Jelena, cheering him on from the stands. But years ago, they were just two teenagers wandering the halls of high school, where their sweet love story began. Fast forward 20 years, and they’re still the perfect match, proving their love truly stands the test of time!
Two years after Novak turned professional in 2003, he and Jelena officially became a couple. While Novak was making his professional debut, Jelena was pursuing an academic scholarship at Bocconi University in Milan, studying business administration. The term "power couple" hardly captures the essence of their relationship.
The Budding Couple, Jelena and Novak (@jelenadjokovicndf/Instagram)
In 2006, Novak achieved a remarkable feat by winning the ATP Tour without losing a set. The following year, he reached the finals of his first Grand Slam tournament, finishing as the runner-up. Meanwhile, Jelena was also advancing her education, working towards a Master’s degree in luxury management and services from the International University of Monaco. However, balancing their commitments was not easy.
“Us getting together was like science fiction almost. 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. We contrived and devised these plans: how to meet, how to make our relationship work”
The couple's careers blossomed beautifully, and by the time Novak proposed in 2014, they each had impressive accomplishments to their names. From 2008 until their engagement, Novak not only triumphed with a Grand Slam title but also secured a Davis Cup victory and became the world’s No. 1 player. Meanwhile, Jelena was on her own incredible journey, working with Tamoil, launching Jelena Ristic Consulting, becoming the National Director of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, and even dabbling in modeling—because why not?
Novak Wins His First Grand Slam Title in The 2008 Australian Open (Paul Zimmer)
On July 10, 2014, just a few days after Novak clinched another Grand Slam title, the couple celebrated their love in a dreamy ceremony at the gorgeous Aman Sveti Stefan resort in Montenegro. Their hearts full of joy, they quickly welcomed their first little bundle of joy, a son named Stefan, that fall. Three years later, their family grew even more when they welcomed another fall darling, Tara. It was truly a picture-perfect love story!
Djokovic’s Posing For a Photo With Novak’s Trophy at the 2023 French Open (Getty)
Not long after, in 2018, Novak found his love for tennis wobbly. After a tough tournament loss and a pesky elbow injury, retirement suddenly seemed like an option. Jelena, his biggest cheerleader, assured him that she would stand by him no matter what, but inside, she felt heartbroken—after all, she adored tennis too! During a sweet family vacation, everything shifted for Novak when he caught a glimpse of Jelena and their little boy, Stefan, together.
Jelena describes the scene:
“It was just crazy … we went on a holiday together. When he decides he doesn’t want to play tennis … he doesn’t want anything to do with tennis, and I love tennis.”
“He showed up on the third or fourth day, and saw me and Stef playing on the court. Luckily he saw how much fun we were having … he was like, ‘can I have a racquet, please? He took a few balls and started serving, and he was like, ‘it’s not feeling bad, it’s OK – I’m going to call Marian (Vajda), I’m going to ask him to come back and be my coach again.”
Months later, he won Wimbledon!
Since that magical moment, the Djokovic family has continued to cheer on their incredible dad, support their savvy businesswoman mom, and proudly represent their beloved home country. The Novak Djokovic Foundation, created with love by this dynamic couple, works tirelessly to provide quality early education for Serbian children in need.
The Couple Posing in the Earlier Days of the Novak Djokovic Foundation’s Dinners (Getty)
Their hard work in both athletics and philanthropy is not just inspiring; it’s a heartwarming reminder that true love can flourish against all odds. The love story of Novak and Jelena is a sweet testament to the idea that you should always fight for what you cherish, no matter how bumpy the journey gets. This top-spin, grand-slamming, doubles duo navigates life hand in hand, proving to the world that high school crushes can blossom into a delightful "Love-All" lifestyle!