Who Is Novak Djokovic? Bio, Fun Facts, Info, and Much More
ATPFriday, 06 June 2025 at 16:23
Updated at Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 03:37
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian tennis player who many believe to be the greatest in the sport's history. His numerous achievements make him the most statistically successful man or woman to have played professionally.
Despite being among the most incredible athletes ever, Djokovic has also generated controversy on and off the court. His life attracts scrutiny, and there are interesting facts about him, the most interesting of which will be detailed in this article.
Djokovic was born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is 188 cm tall (6ft 2 in) and weighs around 77 kg (170 lbs). His primary residence is in Belgrade, but he also spends time in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Marbella, Spain.
When did Novak Djokovic start playing tennis?
Djokovic started playing at the age of 4 after his parents gave him a mini racket and ball. From age 6, he worked with former player Jelena Gencic, who convinced him to use a two-handed backhand instead of one-handed.
His training as a child was sometimes disrupted by Serbia being hit with embargoes and NATO bombings during the Kosovo War. Djokovic later worked with the 1973 French Open runner-up Nikola Pilic after moving to his academy in Germany.
Who was Novak Djokovic's idol?
Pete Sampras was Djokovic's idol. That is why he used a one-handed backhand before Gencic taught him to hit with two hands. Despite idolizing the seven-time Wimbledon champion, Djokovic's style of play as a professional is very different from Sampras's, who tried to serve and volley whenever possible.
Does Novak Djokovic have any siblings?
Djokovic has two younger brothers, Marko and Djordje, who both played professional tennis. Each won titles on the ITF Futures level but did not become consistent players on the ATP circuit.
Djordje is also the tournament director of the Serbia Open, an ATP tournament played in Belgrade. It is held at the Novak Tennis Center, although the eldest of the brothers does not always compete at the 250-level tournament since he prioritizes the biggest events.
Who is Novak Djokovic's father?
Srdjan Djokovic is the tennis legend's father. Despite his and wife Dijana's lack of money, their desperation for him to succeed led to Srdjan taking out high-interest loans to pay for his lessons at Pilic's academy. Novak has said that having that pressure on him from a young age probably helped him to cope with big moments during his career.
At the 2023 Australian Open, Srdjan caused controversy by posing with a pro-Vladimir Putin motorcycle group, leading to accusations of him supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine. Srdjan later said he thought the people were just Serbian fans.
Who is Novak Djokovic's wife?
Djokovic met his future wife, Jelena, in high school. They started dating in 2005 and married nine years later on July 10th, 2014. She is a regular feature at his matches, and Djokovic has spoken about her influence several times.
Does Novak Djokovic have kids?
Djokovic and his wife have two children. Their son Stefan was born in October 2014, and their daughter Tara was born in September 2017. Stefan generated attention at the 2025 Geneva Open after asking his father a question during a press conference.
How many Grand Slams has Novak Djokovic won?
Many consider Djokovic's incredible Grand Slam tally to be the primary reason he should be regarded as the greatest player ever. He has secured 24 major titles, more than Serena Williams' 23, Rafael Nadal's 22, and Roger Federer's 20. Only Margaret Court, who won all her Grand Slams in a much weaker era in the 1960s and 1970s, can match Djokovic's tally of 24 major crowns.
The Serbian has won ten Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens, and three French Opens. His most recent Grand Slam triumph came at the 2023 US Open, where he beat Daniil Medvedev in the final.
How many weeks has Novak Djokovic spent at No. 1?
While Djokovic needs one more Grand Slam title to stand alone as the player with the most ever, his ranking accomplishments are unmatched in tennis history. The four-time US Open winner's 428 weeks at No. 1 surpass anyone else on the ATP or WTA Tours. Federer, with 310 weeks, and Steffi Graf, with 377 weeks, are the closest male and female players to him.
What other records does Novak Djokovic hold?
Djokovic holds numerous other records. Some of the most notable include:
1. Winning seven ATP Finals titles (formerly called the Year-End Championships), the most in tennis history.
2. Men's player with the most Australian Open titles.
3. Winning the most Masters 1000 titles (40).
4. Being the only player to win every Masters 1000 event, and the only one to do it at least twice at each tournament.
How many titles has Novak Djokovic won?
At the 2025 Geneva Open, Djokovic won his most recent title. It was also the tennis legend's 100th ATP crown, joining Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only men's singles players to achieve it. Connors won 109 titles and Federer 103.
Djokovic's first title came on clay at the Dutch Open in July 2006. He has won 71 hard-court titles, 21 on clay, and eight on grass.
What are Novak Djokovic's favorite shots?
Djokovic lists the return and down-the-line backhand as his favorite shots. Although all parts of the 24-time Grand Slam champion's game are strong, his return is considered by many to be the best in tennis history.
What is Novak Djokovic's favorite surface?
Hard courts are Djokovic's favorite surface. Despite being excellent in any conditions, Rafael Nadal has won more French Opens and Roger Federer more Wimbledon titles than Djokovic(although he only trails Federer's Wimbledon haul by one).
By contrast, Djokovic's total of 14 Grand Slam hard-court titles is more than Federer's 11 and Nadal's six. The numbers make it challenging to argue with him at least being the greatest hard-court player ever.
What titles has Novak Djokovic won when representing Serbia?
Djokovic has stated that securing an Olympic Gold Medal in the men's singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics was the greatest moment of his career. Held on clay at Roland Garros, he defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 7-6 in the Gold Medal match.
The seven-time Wimbledon winner had suffered heartbreaking losses in his previous Olympic appearances. Since Djokovic will be 41 when the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are played, it felt like one last chance to achieve his dream. His achievement of that was arguably one of the most special moments ever seen on a tennis court.
Djokovic also won the 2010 Davis Cup title with Serbia. That was done with triumphs against the United States, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and France, and Djokovic won all eight of his matches during that run.
What is Novak Djokovic's relationship with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer?
Many consider Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer the greatest players ever, and the era when they dominated the sport is widely viewed as the best in tennis history. The Serbian admits he did not have a good relationship with Nadal and Federer for much of his career. This was especially true of Federer, who Djokovic says did not like his attitude when he emerged on the ATP Tour.
However, Djokovic has also stated that he always respected his great rivals. Although the two were never friends, his professional relationship with Federer improved in later years, as shown by his presence and emotion at Federer's retirement at the 2022 Laver Cup.
Djokovic says Nadal had a bigger impact on him than any other player. That was made abundantly clear by the three-time French Open winner admitting that a big part of him left the sport when Nadal announced his retirement in October 2024, ending his career the following month at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.
What languages does Novak Djokovic speak?
Djokovic is interested in languages. He speaks English, Serbian, French, Spanish, Italian, and German to varying degrees of proficiency.
Why does Novak Djokovic have a gluten-free diet?
In the early stages of his career, Djokovic struggled with dizziness and feeling ill during matches. That led to him retiring mid-match several times and developing a reputation among some as mentally weak and not tough enough.
Djokovic was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance in 2010 by a doctor. After going without gluten for two weeks, he ate a bagel and had symptoms similar to a hangover. Removing gluten dramatically improved his health and energy levels, and from there, he became one of the physically strongest athletes in sports history.
Why was Novak Djokovic deported from Australia?
Djokovic has refused to take any of the COVID-19 vaccines available due to his stance against mandatory vaccination. Despite the requirements at the time to get into Australia, the tennis legend was given a medical exemption by the Australian Open to enter the country for the 2022 iteration of the tournament.
However, border patrol at Melbourne Airport refused to allow him entry, and he spent several days in a detention centre. Djokovic later claimed that the food in the facility poisoned him. It seemed like Djokovic would be able to play when the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia upheld his appeal and ordered his release.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke then intervened, using special ministerial powers to have Djokovic deported. It was one of the most divisive sporting stories of the 21st century, generating considerable interest and controversy.
Did Novak Djokovic write a book?
In August 2013, Djokovic released a book titled Serve To Win. It tells his life story to that point while also providing dietary, exercise, and motivational tips. He has spoken about plans to release two further books after retiring: one about health and wellness and the other an autobiography.
Is Novak Djokovic charitable?
The seven-time ATP Finals champion founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation in 2007 after becoming inspired by his work as an ambassador for UNICEF. The Foundation has raised millions in its mission to support early childhood education and development.
Popular News
Just In
