<p id=”par-1_62″>Novak Djokovic is one of the most famous and successful tennis players in the world. The <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/novak-djokovic-opens-traumatic-childhood-it-was-a-horrifying-experience.html/”>Serbian star</a> turned pro in 2003 when he was just 15 years old and he’s been impressive to watch ever since. Today, he holds the all-time record for men’s major singles titles. He also took home his first <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/olympic-gold-medals-arent-actually-gold-much-one-really-worth.html/”>gold medal</a> at the 2024 Paris <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/olympics/”>Olympics</a>. </p>
<p id=”par-2_35″>After winning the medal, Novak said: “I don’t know what to say, I’m still in shock. I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, my everything on the line to win Olympic gold.”</p>
<p id=”par-3_49″>Being such a popular figure on the world stage of course draws questions about his life away from the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/sports/”>sport</a> and the woman who is seen cheering him on at so many of his matches. Here’s more on Novak’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, and what their age difference is. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-how-much-older-is-jelena-than-novak”>How much older is Jelena than Novak?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jelena-and-Novak-Djokovic-attend-The-Novak-Djokovic-Foundation-dinner-reception-in-New-York-City.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Jelena and Novak Djokovic attend The Novak Djokovic Foundation dinner reception in New York City” class=”wp-image-3702686″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Jelena and Novak Djokovic attend The Novak Djokovic Foundation dinner reception in New York City | Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_16″>Novak was born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, Serbia to Dijana (née Žagar) and Srdjan Djokovic. </p>
<p id=”par-5_22″>Jelena is from Belgrade as well. She was born on June 17, 1986, making her just 11 months older than her husband.</p>
<p id=”par-6_49″>Because they are so close in age and grew up in the same city, they actually attended the same school and were high school sweethearts. They met while playing tennis at the school and began dating in 2005. They were together for several years before Novak proposed in 2013.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-they-had-a-long-distance-relationship-after-high-school”>They had a long-distance relationship after high school</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Jelena-Djokovic-and-Novak-Djokovic-attend-the-red-carpet-at-the-2024-Laureus-World-Sport-Awards-Madrid-at-Palacio-De-Cibeles-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Jelena Djokovic and Novak Djokovic attend the red carpet at the 2024 Laureus World Sport Awards Madrid at Palacio De Cibeles” class=”wp-image-3702691″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Jelena Djokovic and Novak Djokovic attend the red carpet at the 2024 Laureus World Sport Awards Madrid at Palacio De Cibeles | Beatriz Velasco/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-7_62″>Novak was very focused on his tennis career after high school, but Jelena had her own dreams. She wanted to go to college abroad. She attended Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and studied luxury brand management. This meant that she and Novak had a long-distance relationship. With busy schedules and limited resources, they did their best to make their romance work. </p>
<p id=”par-8_62″>“Us getting together was like science fiction almost,” Jelena told <a href=”https://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/201407101087/jelena-ristic/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Hello!</a> “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. Airplanes were, at the time, something utterly out of our reach. We contrived and devised these plans how to meet, how to make our relationship work.” </p>
<p id=”par-9_40″>When Jelena was done with college, she moved to Monte Carlo with Novak and took a job with an oil company. She has since left that position and today serves as the National Director of the couple’s charity organization, the Novak Djokovic Foundation.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-when-and-where-novak-and-jelena-tied-the-knot”>When and where Novak and Jelena tied the knot</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” width=”1200″ height=”851″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Novak-Djokovic-Jelena-Djokovic-and-their-two-children-pose-for-a-photograph-with-the-winners-trophy-after-the-Mens-Singles-Final-match-the-2023-French-Open.jpg?strip=all&quality=89&strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Novak Djokovic, Jelena Djokovic, and their two children pose for a photograph with the winners trophy after the Men’s Singles Final match the 2023 French Open” class=”wp-image-3614722″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Novak Djokovic, Jelena Djokovic, and their two children pose for a photograph with the winners trophy after the Men’s Singles Final match the 2023 French Open | Clive Brunskill/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/novak-djokovic-said-retiring-age.html/”>
What Tennis Star Novak Djokovic Said About Retiring at His Age </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-10_12″>Novak and Jelena tied the knot on July 10, 2014, in Montenegro. </p>
<p id=”par-11_18″>They said “I do” in front of about 100 guests under an outdoor gazebo overlooking the Adriatic coastline</p>
<p id=”par-12_38″>Their nuptials took place less than a week after Novak won his second Wimbledon championship and when Jelena was pregnant with their first child, Stefan. Three years later, they welcomed another child — a daughter named Tara. </p>