Novak Djokovic isn’t just known for his dominance on the tennis court; he’s also a devoted family man, constantly balancing his personal and professional lives. Despite the grueling demands of his tennis career, Djokovic has always managed to carve out time for his wife, Jelena, and their children, Stefan and Tara. But even for someone as disciplined and determined as Djokovic, it’s no easy task to strike a perfect balance between personal and professional life.

The Serbian Maestro is back on the courts at the Asian Swing and has made a sensational beginning in the Shanghai Masters. He outshined Alex Michelsen in his opening match in straight sets 7-6(3), 7-6(9). But despite the thrill of the match that was witnessed on the court, Nole did not fail to prioritize his role as a father, a husband, and a son. 

When quizzed about his energy which helps him switch roles from being a legendary player to a family man, Djokovic highlighted that he too has his own set of challenges. Speaking at a press conference during Shanghai Masters, he said, “I try to balance things out, and maybe it looks like I am living a perfectly balanced life, but trust me, it’s not like that. You know, it’s very challenging, and I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can and learn, be the best father, husband I can be, along with a tennis player, and, of course, son and brother as well,” Djokovic said. Remember, the star player welcomed his first child in 2014, and his younger daughter in 2017. He has often spoken about how important his family is to him and he depicted similar traits yet again.

Continuing further in the interview, Nole said, “I miss my family when I’m on the road, and at the same time I love tennis, I really do, and I have support from my closest ones to keep going, to keep playing.”  The Serb maestro revealed that he too faces some “tough days”; however the bond that he shares with his family and people around him gives him the energy to keep moving. This, meanwhile, is not the first time when Djokovic’s love for his family has come to light.

Soon after winning the Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics, the Serbian star player took to his Instagram and shared a short video thanking all the people who motivate him and support him in his endeavors. He said that he attempts to “represent his country and family in the right to repay my parents and the people who have been with me since childhood supporting me. And now, of course, my wife and children.” But it’s not Djokovic alone who portrays love for his family. It gets reciprocated similarly with his wife often admiring him as well.

When Novak Djokovic’s wife added a definition to his name

The 2021 Italian Open witnessed an epic finale between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. It was only after three hours that the Spaniard could prevail over his Serbian counterpart in a thrilling three-setter. But what followed was even more interesting than the match. 

Among the many admirers of Nadal after the match was the then tennis correspondent of the New York Times, Christopher Clarey. He took to his X and wrote, “Nadal noun 1.  a Spanish tennis player who will fight no matter the score and usually find a way to win 2.  Clay.” However, this did not seem to sit well with Djokovic’s wife who was quick to respond in a quirky manner.

Djokovic defeated some top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas in his road to the finals and even pushed Rafa to his limits in the close match. Hence, Jelena felt that it was necessary to honor the tennis legend in a similar way. Tagging Clarey in her Instagram story, Jelena wrote, “Add another noun, please. Djokovic (noun). 1) a Serbian player who will find a way to win no matter the crowd or score.”

For now, it would be interesting to see if Novak Djokovic proves his mettle yet again at the Shanghai Masters. He didn’t win a Grand Slam title this season, but he would surely want to finish the season on a high.