Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena have been together for over 16 years, with the tennis icon regularly crediting his partner for his success on the court.

Novak and Jelena Djokovic have been married since 2014 (Image: Getty Images)

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, celebrated for his 24 Grand Slam titles, has always had the encouragement of his wife Jelena Ristic, even during an argument caught on camera at the French Open this year. Nevertheless, Jelena was there to cheer as Djokovic won Olympic gold in Paris.

The duo, who first crossed paths at school and got married on Montenegro’s Sveti Stefan island in 2014 while Jelena was expecting their first son Stefan – named after the wedding location. They went on to welcome daughter Tara in 2017 and jointly spearhead the Novak Djokovic Foundation, with Ristic at the helm as CEO.

But their romance, kindled back in 2005, nearly ended before it began after an awkward first date. In an attempt to impress Jelena, Djokovic reserved spots at a posh sports bar in Monte Carlo.

Things went south when he took the liberty of ordering for both of them. Reflecting on the experience in 2016, Djokovic said: “In my eyes, at the time it was a very exclusive place to take her,” to which Jelena recounted uncomfortably, “Awkward moment, he wants to order for me and it wasn’t what I expected.”

The well-intentioned mistake involved steak tartare, a choice that left them both less than satisfied, given the meal’s raw nature. “I called the waiter over and explained the steak was underdone,” Djokovic recounted, only to be humorously corrected: “‘You ordered the steak tartare, it’s always served raw’.”

Novak and Jelena Djokovic are now stronger than ever 
(Image: Getty Images)

“Whenever we see a steak tartare on the menu it reminds us of our first date,” he shared. The couple endured a long-distance relationship while Djokovic pursued his tennis career and Ristic attended Bocconi University in Milan.

They eventually made their home in Monte Carlo, with Jelena completing her studies at Monaco’s International University. Despite their enduring romance, Djokovic and Ristic have weathered public scrutiny.

Amidst a period of poor performance, Djokovic faced infidelity rumors, prompting tennis legend John McEnroe to draw parallels between Djokovic’s slump and Tiger Woods’ troubles with his partner. “The person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it’s actually a golfer: Tiger Woods,” McEnroe said.

“Woods had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails. He’s never been even close to being the same player. So we’re starting to say, ‘wait a minute, is this possible with him, Djokovic?'”

In a candid confession back in 2016, Djokovic acknowledged grappling with “private issues” yet shrugged off McEnroe’s blunt remarks. “He’s very well known for his kind of bold comments and not really caring too much about being politically correct but saying whatever is on his mind,” Djokovic commented. “He has his right to say the things he wants to say. I don’t necessarily need to agree with that. But it’s his right.”

A recent touching poem dedicated by the seven-time Wimbledon champion to his wife on their anniversary indicates that Djokovic’s marriage is stronger than ever.

His wedding day, which already held indelible memories, became even more significant after winning his third Wimbledon title in 2015. Celebrating his union, Djokovic reflected, “My anniversary is actually today. Becoming parents in October was another great dimension of love and energy for us. Got us even closer together.”

No matter his success on the court, for Djokovic, family takes precedence: “Whether I’m winning or losing, she’s always there. Family’s always there. When I go back home, I’m not a tennis player anymore. I’m a father and a husband.

“That’s a kind of balance that I think allows me to play this well. Ever since I got married and became a father, I haven’t lost many matches, I won many tournaments. I suggest that to every player, ‘get married, have kids, let’s enjoy this’.”