Novak Djokovic says three simple things have helped him keep his marriage to Jelena Djokovic strong for more than 20 years: communication, honesty and transparency. The tennis star met Jelena while they were in high school in Serbia, and the couple married in 2014. They now have two children, Stefan and Tara. In a new PEOPLE interview, Djokovic also opened up about the sacrifices their family has made during his tennis career.
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Novak Djokovic reveals what keeps his marriage to Jelena Djokovic strong
Djokovic and Jelena first met as teenagers in Serbia. Their relationship later grew as Djokovic moved to Monte Carlo to focus on tennis and Jelena studied abroad in Italy. They eventually reconnected, started living together and took the next step by getting married in 2014.
For Djokovic, their long relationship has not been about avoiding problems. He said every couple faces difficult periods, and staying together takes “sacrifice” and “a lot of compromise.” He also believes both partners need to keep growing as life changes.
When asked what has helped their relationship last, Djokovic had a simple answer.
“Communication, honesty, transparency,” he told PEOPLE.
He went on to explain why talking openly matters to him. Djokovic said people should speak when something does not feel right instead of keeping it inside. In his view, an issue can become much bigger when it is left alone.
“You have to communicate when something is not feeling right,” Djokovic said. “The more you keep it inside, the more the monster grows.”
He added that old problems can return when a new disagreement brings them back into the conversation. Djokovic said he was speaking from his own experience, rather than presenting his relationship as perfect.
The couple also try to remember what they have built together when they go through hard times.
Jelena Djokovic is Novak Djokovic’s ‘rock’ as tennis keeps him away
Djokovic also spoke about the part Jelena has played in raising their family while his career keeps him on the road. He described her as his “rock” and said she has kept the household together while he travels for tournaments.
The couple have two children, son Stefan, 12, and daughter Tara, 8. Djokovic said Jelena has helped the children deal with his absence as they have grown older.
He admitted that being away from his wife and children remains painful.
“When you leave your kids and your wife, I think it’s not a cliché [to say] it’s actually very painful,” Djokovic said.
He added that when he returns home, he tries to be as present as possible.
At times, Jelena and the children also travel to tournaments to support him. Stefan was photographed practicing with his father at Wimbledon in 2024.
Djokovic said he would support Stefan if his son wanted to pursue professional tennis. Still, he wants to be his father first rather than become his coach.
“I primarily want him to be happy, to be healthy. I want to be his father,” Djokovic said.
The comments came as Djokovic promoted his Prime Video documentary Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, which was released on August 20. The film gives a closer look at his life away from the tennis court.
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