novak djokovic wife
Novak Djokovic’s wife is Jelena Đoković (née Ristić), a Serbian businesswoman and philanthropist born on June 17, 1986, in Belgrade, Serbia. Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with 24 Grand Slam singles titles to his name and years spent as world No. 1. While the world knows Novak for his record-breaking career on the court, fewer people know much about the woman who has stood beside him since their school days. This article covers everything about Novak Djokovic’s wife — her background, her career, how the couple met, their wedding, their kids, and her life today.
Who Is Jelena Đoković?
Jelena Đoković was born Jelena Ristić on June 17, 1986, in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. She was raised by her parents, Miomir and Vera Ristić, alongside her older sister, Marija, who later went on to work with her at the Novak Djokovic Foundation. Jelena has spoken fondly of her childhood, including summers spent with her grandparents in the small Serbian village of Ljig.
As a teenager, Jelena attended a sports-focused high school in Belgrade, the same school where she met a young Novak Djokovic. She was known as an excellent student, consistently ranking at the top of her class throughout elementary and high school. Her strong academic record helped her earn scholarships, which she needed since her family could not fund an education abroad on their own.
That determination paid off. At 18, Jelena moved to Milan, Italy, to study at Bocconi University, one of Europe’s top business schools. She later added a master’s degree in luxury goods and services from the International University of Monaco, building a strong academic foundation for the career she would go on to build in business and philanthropy.
Jelena Đoković’s Career & Professional Life
Jelena Đoković built a career of her own well before she became widely known as Novak Djokovic’s wife. After graduating, she started out in 2009 as a Human Resources Coordinator at Tamoil (also known as the Oilinvest Group), a European energy company. A couple of years later, she founded her own consulting business, Jelena Ristić Consulting, based in Monaco, applying the luxury brand management expertise she had picked up at Bocconi.
Her most defining professional role, however, is as co-founder and Global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which she and Novak established together in 2007. The foundation focuses on improving access to early childhood education for disadvantaged children, particularly in Serbia. Jelena has described herself as passionate about education, entrepreneurship, and helping others, and she has taken a hands-on leadership role in the charity rather than a purely ceremonial one.
While exact figures on Jelena’s personal net worth are not publicly confirmed, her career spans corporate HR work, independent consulting, and running an internationally recognized nonprofit — giving her a professional identity that stands apart from her husband’s tennis fame.
How Did Novak and Jelena Meet?
Novak Djokovic and Jelena Đoković are true high school sweethearts. They met as teenagers at the same sports-oriented high school in Belgrade, where Novak was already training seriously for a tennis career. Jelena has described their early connection as almost unbelievable, once telling Hello! magazine that “us getting together was like science fiction, almost.”
Their relationship began around the time Novak turned professional in 2003, and the timing meant the couple spent much of their early years together apart. Novak was traveling the world for tournaments while Jelena pursued her studies in Milan and later Monaco. Despite the distance and the demands of both of their careers, they maintained a long-distance relationship for years, reportedly dating since 2005.
The couple’s commitment paid off. In September 2013, while Novak was living in Monte Carlo, he proposed to Jelena during a getaway to Provence, France. By April 2014, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, setting the stage for a wedding that would follow just months later.
Marriage & Wedding Details
Novak and Jelena got married on July 10, 2014, shortly after Novak had won his second Wimbledon title. The main ceremony took place at Aman Sveti Stefan, an exclusive island resort in Montenegro known for its luxury and privacy. A day later, the couple held a religious ceremony at the Church of Saint Stephen, part of the Praskvica Monastery in Montenegro.
The wedding was a relatively private affair, attended mainly by close family and friends rather than a large celebrity guest list, which fits the couple’s generally low-key approach to their personal life. Novak has since called their wedding day one of the most meaningful moments of his life, describing it as close to perfect.
Children & Family Life
Novak and Jelena Đoković share two children together. Their son, Stefan, was born in October 2014, just a few months after the wedding. Stefan has shown an early interest in tennis himself, following in his father’s footsteps on the court. Their daughter, Tara, was born in September 2017, completing their family of four.
The Đoković family divides its time between Serbia, Monaco, and various stops on the ATP tour calendar, but Jelena and Novak have made a consistent effort to keep their children’s day-to-day lives away from heavy media exposure. Jelena has spoken about valuing early childhood education deeply — both professionally through the foundation and personally as a mother of two. Despite Novak’s global fame, the couple has generally kept the finer details of their children’s schooling and routines private.
Jelena Đoković on Social Media
Jelena maintains a public presence online tied closely to her work with the Novak Djokovic Foundation, where she shares updates on the charity’s education initiatives, along with occasional family moments and glimpses of her life in Monaco and Serbia. Her content leans toward philanthropy and lifestyle rather than the more tennis-heavy posts associated with Novak’s own accounts.
Because several unofficial fan accounts and lookalike profiles also use her name, it’s worth noting that her most substantial following is connected to her foundation-related account, which has drawn a large audience interested in both her charity work and her role as Novak Djokovic’s wife.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jelena Đoković (née Ristić) |
| Date of Birth | June 17, 1986 |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Profession | Businesswoman; Co-founder & Global CEO, Novak Djokovic Foundation |
| Married to | Novak Djokovic |
| Marriage Year | 2014 |
| Children | Stefan (b. 2014), Tara (b. 2017) |
| Net Worth | Not officially confirmed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Novak Djokovic’s wife’s name? A: Novak Djokovic’s wife is Jelena Đoković, born Jelena Ristić. She is a Serbian businesswoman and the co-founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
Q: How old is Jelena Đoković? A: Jelena Đoković was born on June 17, 1986, in Belgrade, Serbia, making her currently in her late 30s.
Q: What does Jelena Đoković do for a living? A: Jelena works as the co-founder and Global CEO of the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which supports early childhood education. She previously worked in HR and ran her own luxury brand consulting firm.
Q: When did Novak Djokovic and Jelena get married? A: Novak and Jelena got married on July 10, 2014, at Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, followed by a church ceremony the next day.
Q: How many kids do Novak and Jelena Djokovic have? A: Novak and Jelena have two children together: their son Stefan, born in October 2014, and their daughter Tara, born in September 2017.
Conclusion
Jelena Đoković is far more than just Novak Djokovic’s wife — she’s a Belgrade-born businesswoman, a Bocconi-educated entrepreneur, and the driving force behind a foundation that has helped thousands of children access early education. From high school sweethearts to partners raising two kids together, Novak and Jelena’s relationship has stayed remarkably grounded despite decades in the public eye. As Novak Djokovic’s wife continues to build her own legacy through philanthropy, she remains a steady, private presence alongside one of tennis’s greatest champions.
