Love, Friendship, and Tennis: Djokovic Opens Up

In a candid conversation, Novak Djokovic shared insights about his relationship with his wife, Jelena, and her past with a close friend of his. Surprisingly, there seems to be no awkwardness surrounding this history.

“He’s a good person. He’s moved on. He has a family. In fact, we’ve never talked about it,” Djokovic mentioned in an interview with Piers Morgan. It seems both Djokovic and his friend prefer to keep the past in the past while maintaining their friendship.

At 38, Djokovic emphasized that there was no funny business and clarified that he didn’t take anyone’s partner; rather, they simply found their way to each other years later.

Interestingly, while Jelena also played tennis, they never really crossed paths in their playing days. He heard about her after a match when a friend made a grand gesture, wearing a shirt declaring his love for her. “It was quite the revelation!” Djokovic recalled, laughing about how they initially thought that was a bit cheesy.

Eventually, Jelena and Djokovic met through mutual friends. They began dating when he was living in Monte Carlo, while she was studying in Italy. Reports suggest that their romance started when she was only 18.

Jelena previously shared with Hello Magazine that their relationship seemed almost unreal at first. “I was a student barely getting by,” she said, contrasting her life with Djokovic’s early struggles as a budding tennis player.

During the interview, Djokovic revealed that Jelena has been the longest-lasting relationship in his life. “She’s truly the love of my life,” he said, which reflects a deep connection between them.

The couple got engaged in 2013 and tied the knot a year later. They welcomed their first son, Stefan, in 2014, followed by their daughter, Tara, in 2017.

As for this year’s Grand Slam season, Djokovic faced challenges, losing in the semifinals of all four tournaments.