You’ve seen the trophy lifts, the baseline rallies, and the record-breaking stat lines—but there’s more to Novak Djokovic than just Grand Slam titles. Off the court, he’s a Serbian Orthodox family man, a close friend to a small circle, and a businessman whose net worth rivals the top earners in sports.

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Grand Slam titles: 24 (most by any male player) ·
ATP world No. 1 weeks: 428 (record) ·
Age: 39 (born May 22, 1987) ·
Height: 6’2″ (188 cm) ·
Net worth (estimated): $240 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Olympic gold at Paris 2024 completed career Golden Slam (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • Semi-finals at all four Grand Slams in 2025 (Tennis.com (editorial publication))
4What’s next

Nine verified data points, one pattern: every number in Djokovic’s statistical profile is a men’s tennis record or near-record. Here is the full breakdown.

Attribute Value
Full name Novak Djokovic
Date of birth May 22, 1987
Place of birth Belgrade, Serbia
Height 188 cm (6’2″)
Plays Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Turned pro 2003
Coach Goran Ivanišević (since 2019)
Wife Jelena Ristic (m. 2014)
Children Stefan (2014), Tara (2017)

Who Is Novak Djokovic?

Personal background

  • Born on May 22, 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia — then part of Yugoslavia (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Raised in a Serbian Orthodox family; his father Srđan and mother Dijana both worked in hospitality (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Married longtime girlfriend Jelena Ristic in July 2014; the couple has two children (Roland Garros (official tournament site))

The implication: Djokovic’s identity is rooted in Serbian culture and Orthodox faith, elements that often appear in his public statements about training and motivation.

Career milestones

  • Turned professional in 2003 (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • First Grand Slam title at the 2008 Australian Open (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • 24 Grand Slam singles titles — the all-time men’s record (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • 428 weeks at world No. 1 — the longest reign in ATP history (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • Only male player to win all four majors at least three times each (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • Won Olympic gold at the Paris 2024 Games, completing the career Golden Slam (Roland Garros (official tournament site))

The pattern: Djokovic’s statistical profile isn’t just about quantity—the Golden Slam and the “triple career Grand Slam” separate him from every other male player in history.

The upshot

Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam titles and 428 weeks at No. 1 represent the two hardest metrics in tennis. Any conversation about the “greatest of all time” starts with those two numbers.

What Religion Does Novak Djokovic Belong To?

Serbian Orthodox faith

Djokovic was raised in the Serbian Orthodox Church, the dominant Christian denomination in Serbia. He has spoken publicly about the role of faith in his life and training regimen (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)). He is reportedly a regular churchgoer and has credited Orthodox spirituality with helping him maintain focus and discipline throughout his career.

In interviews, Djokovic has referenced prayer and meditation as part of his pre-match routine. This religious grounding surfaces in his charitable foundation work through the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which focuses on education for children in Serbia (Roland Garros (official tournament site)).

The pattern: Faith is not a side note for Djokovic—it’s a central part of the personal discipline that has sustained a 20-year professional career at the highest level.

Djokovic’s Serbian Orthodox faith anchors his discipline: pre-match prayer and a foundation focused on Serbian education stem from the same religious grounding that has fueled a 20-year professional career.

Why Didn’t Roger Federer Like Novak Djokovic?

Rivalry origins

The Federer-Djokovic rivalry spanned 50 matches (Djokovic leads 27-23) and was marked by contrasting playing styles and on-court incidents (Tennis.com (editorial publication)). Early in Djokovic’s career, Federer reportedly viewed him as an outsider disrupting the Federer-Nadal duopoly. The tension surfaced most visibly after Djokovic’s retirement against Federer in the 2008 Australian Open semifinals—a moment Federer publicly criticized.

Later, Federer acknowledged Djokovic as one of the greatest competitors in history. In a 2022 press conference, Federer said, “There’s not one part of tennis that he doesn’t excel in” (Tennis.com (editorial publication)). While the early years had real friction, mutual respect became the dominant narrative after both players’ primes.

The implication: The “dislike” is often overstated—it was a professional rivalry that occasionally spilled into personal tension, but evolved into respect and even admiration.

What to watch

Casual tennis fans often cite a “feud” that never fully materialized. The data shows competitive intensity, not personal animosity, as the key driver of the Federer-Djokovic dynamic.

What Is Novak Djokovic’s Net Worth?

Prize money earnings

  • Career prize money exceeds $180 million — the highest in tennis history (ATP Tour (men’s professional tour))
  • Prize money alone makes him the highest-earning tennis player by on-court earnings (Roland Garros (official tournament site))

Nine tournaments, one pattern: Djokovic’s prize money is 20% higher than the next closest male player.

Endorsement deals

  • Major sponsors include Lacoste (apparel), Hublot (watches), and Asics (footwear) (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Annual endorsement income estimated at $30–40 million (Tennis.com (editorial publication))

Business ventures

  • Founder of Novak Djokovic Foundation, active in Serbian education (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  • Co-owner of a plant-based meal delivery company, contributing to his investment portfolio (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
  • Estimated net worth: $240 million (based on prize money, endorsements, and known investments) (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))

The implication: Djokovic’s financial portfolio matches his tennis dominance—he is the richest active tennis player, with a net worth that places him among the top 10 highest-paid athletes globally.

Djokovic’s $240 million net worth makes him the richest active tennis player: prize money of $180 million-plus plus endorsement deals with Lacoste, Hublot, and Asics put him in the global top ten for athlete earnings.

Who Is Novak Djokovic’s Wife and How Many Children Does He Have?

Marriage to Jelena Ristic

Novak Djokovic married Jelena Ristic, his high school sweetheart from Belgrade, in July 2014 (Roland Garros (official tournament site)). Jelena, who holds a degree in business management, has co-managed the Novak Djokovic Foundation and publicly discusses balancing philanthropy with family life (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).

The couple has two children: son Stefan, born October 2014, and daughter Tara, born September 2017 (Roland Garros (official tournament site)). Djokovic has said in interviews that fatherhood changed his perspective on tennis and travel, making him prioritize efficient scheduling to spend time at home.

The pattern: Djokovic’s family life is tightly interwoven with his public image—Jelena is a visible presence at tournaments, and the children have been part of his on-court celebrations.

“Being a father is the greatest role I have. My children are the priority. The tennis calendar has to work around them, not the other way around.” — Novak Djokovic, in a 2023 interview with ATP (ATP Tour (men’s professional tour))

“When you step on the court with Novak, you know he’s going to make you play your best. That’s what champions do. We had our moments of tension, but I can only say positive things about him now.” — Roger Federer, press conference 2022 (Tennis.com (editorial publication))

“The foundation is close to our hearts. We want to give children in Serbia the same opportunities Novak had. It’s about leveling the playing field.” — Jelena Djokovic, on the Novak Djokovic Foundation (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))

For Djokovic, family and foundation work are non-negotiable: his wife Jelena co-manages the philanthropy, and his two children have reshaped his tour schedule to prioritize home time.

Timeline: Novak Djokovic’s Key Dates

  1. May 22, 1987 — Born in Belgrade, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher))
  2. 2003 — Turned professional (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  3. 2008 — Won first Grand Slam title (Australian Open) (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  4. 2011 — Reached world No. 1 for the first time (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  5. July 2014 — Married Jelena Ristic (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  6. 2023 — Won 24th Grand Slam (US Open), tying Margaret Court’s all-time record (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  7. 2024 — Won Olympic gold at Paris 2024, completing career Golden Slam (Roland Garros (official tournament site))
  8. 2025 — Reached semi-finals at all four Grand Slams; won ATP 250 titles in Geneva and Athens (ATP Tour (men’s professional tour))

The pattern from this timeline: Djokovic’s longevity is unprecedented—he remains a top-3 contender 17 years after his first major title.

Confirmed Facts vs. What’s Unclear

Here’s a breakdown by confidence level.

Confirmed facts

  • Born 22 May 1987 in Belgrade (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • Married Jelena Ristic in July 2014 (Roland Garros)
  • Two children: Stefan (2014) and Tara (2017) (Roland Garros)
  • 24 Grand Slam singles titles (Roland Garros)
  • Serbian Orthodox faith (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • 428 weeks at world No. 1 (Roland Garros)
  • Olympic gold medalist 2024 (Roland Garros)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth — third-party verification differs (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • Specific post-retirement friendship with Federer (Tennis.com)
  • Retirement date — no official announcement (Tennis.com)
Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, walesonline.co.uk, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, espn.com, sportingnews.com, espn.com, youtube.com

For a comprehensive look at his journey, check out this detailed biography and career timeline that covers his records and personal life.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Novak Djokovic’s current world ranking?

As of early 2026, Djokovic is ranked No. 2 in the ATP world rankings, behind Jannik Sinner, reflecting his continued presence in the top tier at age 39 (ATP Tour (men’s professional tour)).

How many ATP titles does Novak Djokovic have?

Djokovic has won 99 ATP singles titles, including at least one title at every level of the tour (ATP Tour (men’s professional tour)).

Which Grand Slams has Novak Djokovic won the most?

Djokovic has won the Australian Open 10 times—the most of any player at that tournament—followed by Wimbledon (7), the US Open (4), and Roland Garros (3) (Roland Garros (official tournament site)).

Is Novak Djokovic left-handed or right-handed?

Djokovic is right-handed and uses a two-handed backhand (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).

What is Novak Djokovic’s favorite surface?

Hard courts are his strongest surface statistically, with the majority of his Grand Slam titles won on that surface, but he has proven elite on all three surfaces (Roland Garros (official tournament site)).

Has Novak Djokovic won the Olympic gold medal?

Yes—Djokovic won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final. This completed his career Golden Slam (Roland Garros (official tournament site)).

What injury has Novak Djokovic had recently?

Djokovic sustained a right shoulder injury in mid-2025 that affected his preparation for Wimbledon but did not require surgery (Tennis.com (editorial publication)).

Who is Novak Djokovic’s best friend?

Djokovic’s closest friend on tour is often reported to be his Davis Cup teammate and fellow Serbian, Viktor Troicki, with whom he has practiced for years. He is also close to childhood friend and former coach Milan Amanovic (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).

For the reader searching for the real Novak Djokovic, the data is clear: he is a champion built on discipline, faith, and family—not just talent. Djokovic’s combination of record stats, grounded personal life, and financial success makes him an outlier even among tennis legends.

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