Djokovic reveals the secret story of how he met his wife: she was once the girlfriend of his best friend, yet they remained friends after he stepped in.

In a recent interview, tennis star Djokovic disclosed the story of meeting his wife Jelena — who had previously dated one of his tennis opponents and friends before their romance began.

This episode, which Djokovic called “somewhat embarrassing,” revealed to the public for the first time the uncommon start to the love story of this exemplary tennis couple.

During the “Piers Morgan Uncensored” interview, Djokovic recalled that he first became aware of Jelena through a dramatic moment at a junior tennis tournament.

At that time, a teammate from his tennis club, after winning an important match, suddenly lifted his shirt to reveal a white T-shirt underneath that read, “Jelena, I love you. This victory is for you.”

This unexpected “declaration of love” made Djokovic and others present feel both embarrassed and amused. Djokovic recalled his reaction: “Oh my god, that was so cheesy. Why would he do that? Who exactly is this Jelena?”

He never imagined that the Jelena who was publicly professed to in such a bold way would, years later, be introduced to him through mutual friends and eventually become his wife.

After that match, Jelena herself appeared at the venue, and Djokovic met her through shared friends. Their social circles overlapped significantly, with one of Djokovic’s closest friends even being Jelena’s classmate.

Therefore, over the next four to five years, they maintained a friendship until Djokovic moved to Monte Carlo, after which they officially started dating.

Djokovic clarified the timeline, emphasizing that Jelena had already broken up with that friend and had gone to study in Italy before they began dating. He described Jelena as “the only true love of my life,” noting that although he had brief relationships lasting a few months, Jelena was his only serious long-term partner.

Speaking of Jelena, she is also a genuine “talented woman.” She is a year older than Djokovic, graduated from Bocconi University in Milan with a degree in finance, and earned an MBA from the International University of Monaco. She speaks seven languages, including Italian and English. Before meeting Djokovic, she had built a career at a major European oil company.

In her youth, Jelena was also a tennis player. Djokovic once described her as “a determined tennis player and a great athlete. She’s very smart, even smarter than me.”

At the end of the interview, Djokovic revealed that he still maintains a friendship with the tennis player who once dated Jelena, but admitted, “We never discuss it because it might make both of us very uncomfortable.”

However, this past has become a tacit “taboo topic” between them. Djokovic said that the friend “moved on a long time ago and has a family now,” and that they had just spoken yesterday.

The host expressed understanding and shared his own experience of a friend dating his sister and still feeling awkward decades later. Djokovic also acknowledged the complexity of such delicate interpersonal dynamics.

Djokovic and Jelena held a traditional church wedding in July 2014 on the island of Sveti Stefan in Montenegro. They have since had a son, Stefan, and a daughter, Tara.

Today, the couple jointly runs the “Djokovic Foundation,” established in 2007, with Jelena serving as director. The foundation is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for children in Serbia.

In recent years, Djokovic’s family has made significant lifestyle changes, leaving their long-time residence in Monaco and establishing Athens, Greece as their new home base. Their two children are now enrolled at St. Lawrence College in Athens.

Djokovic’s shared story sparked lively discussions on social media, with many netizens saying the tale “feels like a movie plot.”

One commenter wrote: “Life is more dramatic than any script! Little Djokovic once mocked his friend’s ‘cheesy romance,’ and in the end, married the girl who was publicly declared to. True fate can’t be escaped!”

Another user commented, “Even with such a dramatic beginning, they found each other and maintained such a long and stable relationship, which is not easy.”

Some netizens expressed concern for the “friend’s” feelings: “Am I the only one worried about that friend? Seeing the girl he once declared love to in such a sensational way end up marrying his friend and rival — that feeling…”

However, most praised Djokovic’s way of handling the relationship: “Being so open and still maintaining a good friendship shows how mature they both are.”

This nearly two-decade-long relationship has witnessed Djokovic’s rise from a tennis prodigy to a 24-time Grand Slam champion. Jelena has been present at almost every significant match, witnessing history in the making. What do you think? Feel free to share your views in the comments.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)