‘People’s champion’ Novak Djokovic hailed by wife Jelena who issues ‘won’t stop’ warning
Novak Djokovic has been hailed as a “champion of the people” by wife Jelena who said her husband wanted to leave “joy” and “hope” in the world.
The 37-year-old’s rise from a humble upbringing in Serbia to winning 24 Grand Slam singles titles and spending 428 weeks as world No 1 – both ATP records – has been one of the most remarkable sporting stories of the modern age.
Wife Jelena, who married Djokovic in 2014 and has been with the world No 4 for two decades, has played a vital role throughout his career and spearheads the Novak Djokovic Foundation in Belgrade.
Speaking to La Nacion, she said that fan support gives the 24-time major winner the “power and energy” to continue his career.
“When we look at what is happening in the world, tennis is such a small prism of life, but it brings happiness to people. It brings joy. It brings hope,” she said.
“And there is something like that that he wants to leave. I like to see him as a champion of the common people. Not of the rich people. Because he is a common man who comes from a very simple family, from a family of workers and dreamers.
“And travelling around the world you see a lot of people who are inspired by his story, because they are also similar to him. So, tennis is a very luxurious sport, a white sport, a sport of rich people.
“But Novak’s fans are ordinary people, people with an ordinary job and they can’t always afford to have tickets to go see his matches.
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“When you walk down the street and you see the workers who build buildings or whatever, they shout: ‘Hey, Novak! ’ Everyone stops him. I think that is what gives him the power and the energy to keep going.
“Even though he has already achieved everything, I think his greatest victory is being a champion of the people, yes. He is the people’s champion.”
Djokovic’s season has been difficult at Grand Slam level, with the world No 4 failing to win a major for the first time since 2017.
However, his year has been highlighted by his run to the Olympic gold medal that had previously eluded him – beating Carlos Alcaraz to lift the title at Paris 2024.
An Olympic title was the only piece of silverware missing from Djokovic’s collection, but Jelena is confident that her husband will not slow down anytime spoon.
She added: “You wouldn’t believe me when I tell you what I felt [when he won].
“I was crying with happiness and thinking what would be next. Olympic gold was a very difficult goal to achieve, it took him a long time.
“I know for sure that he won’t stop here. He is a giant in mental and spiritual capacity. It is an honour to live with him and, in some ways, to be inspired by him.”
