All About Tennis Star Novak Djokovic's Wife, Jelena Djokovic

Novak Djokovic may primarily play singles tennis, but he found his doubles partner for life in his high school sweetheart. If you've ever tuned into one of his matches, you've probably seen Novak Djokovic's wife, Jelena Djokovic, fiercely cheering him on from the stands. Since his professional debut in 2003, Djokovic has gone on to win a record 24 majors, 40 Masters, and seven ATP Finals. Alongside Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Djokovic is considered one of the "Big Three," otherwise known as three of the most prolific men's players in history. He's been ranked number one in the world for 428 weeks in 13 different years—and he's done it all with his wife by his side.

After meeting in high school in the 1990s, Novak and Jelena Djokovic have been together since the early 2000s. They got married right after he won his second Wimbledon title in 2014, and have since welcomed two children together. So, who is Novak Djokovic's wife? Here's everything to know about the woman married to one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

• Novak Djokovic is married to Jelena Djokovic. They have been together since 2005.
• Jelena and Novak Djokovic met at their high school in Serbia in the 1990s.
• Jelena and Novak Djokovic got married in Montenegro in 2014, about a week after he won his second Wimbledon title.
• Jelena and Novak Djokovic share two children together: a son, Stefan, and a daughter, Tara.

In this article:

• Who is Novak Djokovic's Wife, Jelena Djokovic?
• How Jelena and Novak Djokovic Met
• Jelena and Novak Djokovic's Relationship Timeline
• Jelena and Novak Djokovic's Wedding Details

Who is Novak Djokovic's Wife, Jelena Djokovic?

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Novak Djokovic's wife is Jelena (Ristic) Djokovic. A Serbian native like her husband, Jelena went to the same high school as Novak. She obtained a degree in business administration and management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, before going on to receive her master's in luxury goods and services from the International University of Monaco.

Jelena Djokovic currently serves as the global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, a charity she and her husband created to provide children in Serbia with access to quality early childhood education. Through their company, the Djokovics promote childcare initiatives by renovating and opening classrooms, training teachers, and investing in research and studies targeting early academic development.

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How Jelena and Novak Djokovic Met

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Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena met in high school in Serbia in the 1990s. Although they've known each other since they were teenagers, they didn't begin dating until 2005, shortly after Djokovic made his professional debut as a tennis player.

In an interview with Hello! Magazine, Jelena opened up about how they made their long-distance romance work at the start of their relationship. "Us getting together was like science fiction almost," she recalled. "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."

Jelena and Novak Djokovic's Relationship Timeline

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Novak Djokovic is considered one of the all-time tennis greats, and he didn't make his rise to the top alone—especially because his wife has been by his side nearly since the beginning. Here's a look at the couple's complete relationship timeline, from the 1990s to today.

1990s: Novak Djokovic anad Jelena Ristic Meet

Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena have known each other since they were teenagers. The two met while attending the same Serbian high school in the 1990s, though things didn't turn romantic until years later.

Mid-2000s: Novak Djokovic and Jelena Start Dating

Despite going their separate ways to pursue athletics and education, Jelena and Novak Djokovic reconnected in the early 2000s. They began dating in 2005, two years after his professional tennis debut. After she finished school in Monaco, Jelena moved in with Novak in Monte Carlo, where he was living at the time.

2013: Novak Djokovic Proposes to Jelena

After dating for eight years, Novak Djokovic got engaged to Jelena in 2013.

July 2014: Novak and Jelena Djokovic Get Married

Less than a week after he won his second Wimbledon championship, Novak Djokovic married his wife Jelena in Montenegro on July 10, 2014. The nuptials reportedly took place in front of 100 guests in Sveti Stefan, a town overlooking the Adriatic coastline—and we break down all the details below.

2014-2017: Novak and Jelena Djokovic's Kids Are Born

Jelena and Novak Djokovic are the proud parents of two children. Their oldest, Stefan (whose name may have been inspired by their wedding setting), was born on October 22, 2014. He became a big brother in September 2017 following the birth of the couple's daughter, Tara.

The tennis star shared a thoughtful post announcing his daughter's birth, writing, "Very happy and proud to welcome our little girl Tara to our home…What a blessing to have an opportunity to be a parent!"

He concluded, "Jelena and Tara are my angels, and Stefan is a proud big brother who wants to take part in baby chores."

2023: Novak Djokovic's Family Celebrates His 23rd Win at Roland Garros

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Although Novak Djokovic's family is often by his side at tennis matches, they were particularly excited at Roland Garros in June 2023, where he made history after winning his record-breaking 23rd French Open championship. The athlete's wife and kids celebrated his win over Casper Ruud and posed with his trophy on the iconic clay court after the match.

Jelena and Novak Djokovic's Wedding Details

Photo: @JelenaDjokovicNDF | Instagram

Novak Djokovic's wedding to his wife Jelena took place on July 10, 2024, about one week after he won his second Wimbledon trophy. The couple exchanged vows in Sveti Stefan, a coastal Montenegro town overlooking the Adriatic Sea.

Pregnant with their first child, Jelena wore a strapless Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen wedding dress with a beading bodice and a flowy A-line skirt. "Seeing her for the first time in her wedding dress, smiling and walking towards me…She looked like an angel," Novak exclusively told Hello! Magazine at the time. "I was trying to be present in that moment and memorize it. I was focused on her, and her smile, and our baby. It really was a perfect moment."

The bride shared a similar sentiment: "I was very nervous and everything seemed a blur," she told the outlet. "I was seeing him through tears and immediately started crying when I saw him. I was just so happy and probably being pregnant makes it quite difficult to control the emotions. I am so blessed to have him in my life. I couldn't ask for a better partner than him."

With about 100 guests in attendance, the couple exchanged vows underneath an outdoor gazebo overlooking the sea. "The wedding was everything we hoped it would be," Jelena continued. "Our family and closest friends united in a beautiful setting in celebration of our love. It was truly emotional and unforgettable for us."

As for the groom, his wedding marked a culmination of emotions during a particularly exciting chapter of life. "I am marrying the woman I love and there is no better feeling than that. To win Wimbledon and to now be preparing for fatherhood—I couldn't ask for more!" he said.

Six years after they tied the knot, the Djokovics went for a walk down memory lane by visiting their wedding venue with their children. "This is where mommy and daddy got married while Stefan was still in mommy's belly," Jelena wrote on Instagram. "And this island's name is St Stefan."