During day nine of the French Open earlier this week, Jelena Djokovic, known for her unwavering support for husband Novak Djokovic, was seen engaging in a visibly tense exchange with the tennis player, Francisco Cerundolo. While some mistook their interaction as an argument, it proved pivotal for Djokovic, who made a remarkable comeback afterward.
Reflecting on the moment, Djokovic emphasized the significance of his wife during challenging matches, describing her as his “new psychologist.” Their exchange of smiles during the match underscored the supportive role Jelena plays in his career and personal life, highlighting the profound impact of their partnership on and off the court.
Here’s what we know about his quirky wife, who’s beloved by many:
Jelena and Novak Djokovic have known each other since school
Like her husband, Jelena hails from Serbia. According to People, she studied luxury brand management at Bocconi University in Milan. “Us getting together was like science fiction almost,” Jelena told Hello!. “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.”
Before they tied the knot in 2014, Jelena Djokovic, née Ristić, dated her famous athlete husband for eight years. However, they actually met all the way back in secondary school in Serbia.
She’s vegan like her husband
According to Essentially Sports, the Djokovics follow a plant-based and gluten-free diet, and Jelena has talked openly about the benefits she’s experienced since making the lifestyle change. “Our body and our health are amongst the very few things that we can directly control through our decisions and behaviour,” she wrote on her blog in 2019, “If we don’t understand our body, we are going to drive it off the road. We need to start to listen to the signals our body sends to us.”
She’s got a big heart
When she’s not cheering for her husband, Jelena is running the couple’s charity – the Novak Djokovic Foundation – which aims to improve the lives of underprivileged children and Serbia’s education system.
She’s a doting mum
The couple welcomed their first child – a son named Stefan – in 2014. Novak announced the news on Twitter at the time, saying: “Stefan, our baby angel was born! I am so proud of my beautiful wife Jelena! Thank you so much for your love and support. We love you all!!!” In 2017, Stefan became a big brother to the couple’s daughter, Tara.
Her passion for fashion
Fans can’t seem to get enough of Jelena’s wardrobe. From her confident double denim look at Monday’s French Open game, per WWD, to her baby-doll summer dresses, Jelena always looks stylish on the sidelines.
Other fan and media favourites have included the white textured Alexander McQueen eyelet dress she wore to Wimbledon in 2019 – which she styled with a powder blue quilted backpack – and a strapless floral chiffon number she wore in 2015, per Hello!
