Novak Djokovic's Wife's Surprising Decision Might Help Him Finally Win 25th Grand Slam
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Novak Djokovic is a family man and a decision that his wife, Jelena, recently made might significantly improve his chances of winning his 25th Grand Slam title.
The 37-year-old Serbian is one major title away from reaching a number of singles Grand Slam titles that no one has ever reached. It's a number he aspires to reach, and he's not afraid to admit that.
In 2024, however, he ended the season empty-handed when it comes to the major titles. Since the 2023 US Open, Djokovic hasn't added another one to his collection, but that might change in 2025.
Djokovic started working with Andy Murray as his coach, and he also elected to start the season early, competing at the 2025 Brisbane International, where he won his first two matches.
These two matches were special for him, as they were different from any matches he usually plays in Australia. This time, Djokovic had his wife, Jelena, and his children, son Stefan and daughter Tara, with him.
Djokovic is a family man and he previously often spoke about missing his children when going to play tournaments, which also mentally impacted him, as he felt guilt when leaving his family.
Now, as he revealed after the match, his wife made the decision to take their children with them, even though that presented certain challenges.
"This is the first time my family comes with me, my children, my wife. I was actually a little bit surprised as well, my wife said she wanted to take the kids on the road and come to Australia. I wasn't expecting that because I know it's a long trip, school and everything."
"Many challenges that you have to face as a parent. I'm doing my own thing here. If I have a match day, I'm spending time getting ready for that match and everything. Obviously, she has to take care of the kids."
"She's here supporting me, trying to give me that love and energy, along with kids, that I need to play my best tennis. So far it's working very well. I mean, I'm feeling great on the court. I'm playing great."
For Djokovic, having his children with him might prove to be a very important factor when he will chase his 25th Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open.
Without the guilt of being away, he will be in a much better headspace, having a chance to focus even more only on his tennis and his results.
"It allows me to, first of all, not feel the guilt that I'm so far away for such a long time I've been feeling that, I must admit, when I would travel to Australia in the previous years. I would be away for whatever, four, five weeks."
"Every time you have to separate with your kids and your wife, there's a lot of tears involved. It's not easy. Then you start to question yourself, Why do I have to do it over and over again? This makes it so much easier for me, obviously knowing going back home now they're going to be there waiting for me."
Djokovic also revealed that his children's presence makes him more motivated, and at the end of the day, this decision that his wife made might prove to be decisive in his pursuit of the 25th major title.
"I'm more motivated. I am also more calm, more serene. I spend great quality time with them. It allows me to also not think about tennis 24/7, to have time where I can just release the tension."
