If you’ve ever watched a Novak Djokovic match, you’ve seen her. High up in the player’s box, usually wearing a mix of intense focus and visible nerves. That’s Jelena Djokovic. Most people just see the "wife of a legend," but honestly, the story of how they stayed together while Novak climbed from a skinny kid in Belgrade to a 24-time Grand Slam champion is kind of wild. It wasn't always private jets and Monte Carlo villas.
In fact, it started with a really bad steak.
How Novak Djokovic and wife Jelena actually met
They were just teenagers at a sports high school in Belgrade. This was back in 2005. Novak was a promising talent, sure, but he wasn't "The Joker" yet. Jelena Ristić was a focused student with big dreams of studying abroad.
Their first date is basically legendary for how poorly it went. Novak, trying to be the big man, took her to a restaurant and ordered what he thought was a high-end steak. When it arrived, it was basically raw. He tried to send it back, the waiter explained it was a tartare, and Novak—embarrassed as any teenage boy would be—had to laugh it off.
Luckily, Jelena liked him anyway.
The "science fiction" years of long distance
Things got complicated fast. Jelena moved to Italy to study business administration at Bocconi University in Milan. Novak was traveling the world, grinding through the lower tiers of the ATP tour. They were both broke.
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Jelena has described that period as "science fiction." They literally couldn't afford plane tickets. She was a student on a tight budget; he was a young pro pouring every cent back into his coaching and travel. They had to plot and scheme just to see each other a few times a year.
Once she graduated, she took a job at an oil company in Monte Carlo to be closer to him. It didn't work. She was stuck in an office for 10-hour shifts while he was on the court. They realized if they wanted the relationship to survive his skyrocketing career, they had to change the game. She eventually left the corporate world to help run his brand and, more importantly, the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
The wedding that stopped Montenegro
By 2014, Novak was at the top of the world. He had just beaten Roger Federer in an epic five-set Wimbledon final. A few days later, on July 10, 2014, he married Jelena at the Aman Sveti Stefan resort in Montenegro.
It was a total media blackout.
The staff had to sign non-disclosure agreements. No phones were allowed. Jelena was pregnant with their first child at the time, wearing a dress by Sarah Burton (the same designer who did Kate Middleton’s wedding gown). Novak later told Hello! magazine that seeing her walk toward him in that moment was the best feeling of his life.
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Raising kids in the shadow of 24 Grand Slams
Today, the couple has two children: Stefan, born in October 2014, and Tara, born in September 2017.
Raising kids when your dad is arguably the greatest of all time (GOAT) isn't normal. Stefan is already a bit of a tennis fixture. You’ve probably seen clips of him hitting forehands that look eerily like his father’s. But Novak and Jelena have been pretty vocal about not forcing the sport on him.
Tara, on the other hand, reportedly doesn't care much for tennis at all. She’s more into dancing and books. Jelena has been very open about the "motherhood challenges" of raising children under such a massive spotlight. She’s admitted to feeling the pressure of being a "perfect" mother while the world watches her husband's every move.
Why Jelena is more than a "supportive spouse"
Jelena isn't just there to clap. She’s the CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation. While Novak wins trophies, she’s managing a multimillion-dollar organization focused on early childhood education in Serbia.
She holds a Master’s degree in Luxury Management from the International University of Monaco. She’s the one who modernized Novak’s public image, shifting the focus from just being a "tennis machine" to a philanthropist.
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What most people get wrong about them
Social media loves to dissect their body language. If Jelena looks stressed in the box, people speculate about marriage trouble. If they have a heated exchange during a changeover—which happened at the French Open—the tabloids go crazy.
But honestly? That’s just a long-term marriage under a microscope.
They’ve been together for nearly 20 years. They’ve navigated Novak’s strict diet changes, his refusal to get vaccinated which led to the 2022 Australian Open deportation saga, and the physical toll of a two-decade career. Through all of it, she has been the one constant.
Key facts at a glance
- Started dating: 2005 (High school sweethearts)
- Married: July 10, 2014
- Children: Stefan (11) and Tara (8)
- Jelena's Education: Bocconi University and International University of Monaco
- Business Role: CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Djokovic journey, keep an eye on the Foundation's work. It’s often where the most "real" moments of their lives happen away from the cameras of center court.
- Check out the Novak Djokovic Foundation: They do massive work for preschools in Serbia.
- Look for the "Original" Magazine: This is Jelena's project aimed at empowering youth.
- Understand the "Box" Dynamic: Next time you see Jelena looking tense, remember she’s not just a spectator; she’s managing the emotional weight of a career that has lasted far longer than most experts predicted.
Novak might be the one hitting the 130mph serves, but Jelena is the one who kept the foundation steady when those serves weren't landing. They are a team, in the most literal sense of the word.