As Novak Djokovic continues another impressive Wimbledon campaign in 2026, one familiar face has once again been cheering him on from the player box—his wife, Jelena Djokovic. While tennis fans often see her celebrating his biggest victories, her work extends far beyond supporting one of the sport’s greatest champions.
Jelena has built a successful career in business and philanthropy while helping guide one of Serbia’s leading charitable organizations. During this year’s Wimbledon, she has balanced family responsibilities with her leadership role at the Novak Djokovic Foundation, all while supporting her husband during another Grand Slam run.
Her presence has become a regular feature at major tournaments, reflecting the close partnership that has developed between the couple over more than two decades.
A Long Journey Together
Novak and Jelena first met as teenagers in Belgrade during the late 1990s.
Their relationship developed long before Novak became a global tennis superstar, allowing them to experience both personal and professional milestones together.
After years of dating, the couple married on July 10, 2014, in Montenegro, only days after Novak captured his second Wimbledon singles title.
Since then, they have remained one of tennis’s most recognizable couples, frequently appearing together at tournaments, charity events and international functions.
Their enduring relationship has often been credited with providing stability throughout Novak’s remarkable career.
Professional Career
Before becoming widely known as Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena established her own professional background.
She worked with Tamoil SAM and later launched entrepreneurial projects, including Jelena Ristic Consulting and Original Magazin.
Her experience in business management and communications eventually led her into the nonprofit sector, where she now oversees the Novak Djokovic Foundation as its Global Chief Executive Officer.
Her leadership has helped expand the organization’s educational initiatives while strengthening partnerships with donors and institutions both inside Serbia and internationally.
Foundation Mission
The Novak Djokovic Foundation focuses primarily on improving early childhood education.
Its work includes building and renovating preschools, supporting teachers, creating learning opportunities for children and helping families gain better access to quality education across Serbia.
Under Jelena’s leadership, the foundation has continued expanding its educational programs while raising awareness about the importance of investing in children’s development during their earliest years.
The organization also works with local communities to improve educational environments and provide resources where they are most needed.
Education remains one of the central missions shared by both Novak and Jelena outside the world of professional sports.
Family Comes First
Despite managing a busy professional schedule, Jelena continues to place family at the center of daily life.
She and Novak are parents to two children, Stefan and Tara, who frequently accompany their mother to major tennis tournaments around the world.
Television broadcasts during Grand Slam events often show the family celebrating together after Novak’s victories.
For the Djokovic family, balancing international travel, professional commitments and family life has become an important part of their routine.
Their children have grown up watching their father compete on some of the biggest stages in world sport while remaining closely connected to everyday family life.
Novak’s Perspective
Novak Djokovic has frequently spoken about the importance of his family throughout his career.
Following several major victories, he has explained that returning home allows him to leave the pressures of professional tennis behind.
According to Djokovic, becoming a husband and father has helped him maintain perspective regardless of match results.
He has often said that family provides emotional balance, allowing him to approach both success and disappointment with greater maturity.
That support system has become increasingly important as he continues competing at the highest level well into his career.
Wimbledon 2026
Jelena has once again been a constant presence during Novak’s Wimbledon campaign.
After advancing to the semifinals with a hard-fought victory over Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, Novak moved one step closer to another opportunity to compete for the prestigious Wimbledon title.
Throughout the tournament, television cameras repeatedly captured Jelena encouraging him from Centre Court’s player box alongside family members.
Her calm presence has become familiar to tennis fans who have followed Novak’s career over the years.
The family atmosphere surrounding his matches often contrasts with the intense competition taking place on court.
More Than Tennis
Although she is closely associated with one of the sport’s greatest players, Jelena has developed an identity that extends well beyond tennis.
Her work in education, philanthropy and nonprofit leadership has earned recognition independently of Novak’s athletic achievements.
She frequently speaks about children’s wellbeing, education and creating opportunities for future generations, causes that remain central to the foundation’s mission.
Those efforts have helped establish her as an influential advocate for social development in Serbia and beyond.
Looking Ahead
As Novak Djokovic continues pursuing further Grand Slam success, Jelena is expected to remain one of the strongest influences in both his personal and professional life.
While fans naturally focus on the action unfolding on Centre Court, much of the support behind the scenes comes from the close family environment the couple has built together over many years.
At the same time, Jelena continues leading projects that aim to improve educational opportunities for children, demonstrating that her impact reaches far beyond the tennis world.
Whether supporting Novak during another Wimbledon campaign or overseeing charitable initiatives through the Novak Djokovic Foundation, she continues to balance family, leadership and philanthropy with remarkable consistency, making her an important figure in her own right as well as a trusted partner in one of sport’s most enduring success stories.