Novak Djokovic reveals arguments with wife Jelena over strict parenting rule for their children
NOVAK DJOKOVIC may be the greatest tennis player of all time.
But that does not make him immune to arguments over his strict parenting techniques.
Doting Djokovic, 37, has two kids with childhood sweetheart Jelena, whom he married in 2014.
Son Stefan is nine while daughter Tara is seven.
However, their approaches to raising their children has caused a few rifts between Novak and Jelena – especially when it comes to the ominous area of mobile phone rules.
Speaking at the Davis Cup this week, Djokovic told Blic: “My children still don’t have a cell phone, my wife and I argue [about it].
“The kids complain, ‘At school everyone has one except us.’
“It’s not easy and this is reflected on other levels as well.
“If everyone does something, the herd behaves like this, you have to follow them.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be like that. This is where I think we differ from others, because we are stubborn and active.”
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Djokovic also opened up about his role within the family during Wimbledon – but left Jelena rolling her eyes.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion – who celebrated his Centre Court wins by pretending to play the violin after Tara started lessons – was cheered on by his wife and kids throughout the tournament.
Then during one interview with the Tennis Channel, Djokovic claimed: “Out of the two parents, I’m the one who is responsible for their activities, sports, healthy lifestyle.”
Having seen his wife’s response, he smiled as he went on: “Exactly – she’s rolling her eyes right now as I’m speaking!
“I keep reminding them of how important it is to be active and do sport, whether it’s tennis, whatever it is.
“There are a lot of families and a lot of children from other players who are coming in so for them it’s also a great experience.
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
“It’s a great camp! It’s fun because I get to have quality time with them and my wife as well and then they still have friends on the side.”
Djokovic reached the Wimbledon final but lost in disappointing fashion to Carlos Alcaraz – 12 months on from their blockbuster five-set showdown.
However, the Serbian got revenge at the Paris Olympics by beating Alcaraz and securing a precious gold medal for his country.
An emotional Djokovic, who became the third man to complete the Golden Slam of all four Majors plus Olympic gold, labelled his success at Roland Garros last month as the “greatest achievement and greatest highlight of my career”.
His disappointing early exit at the US Open meant he did not add to his Grand Slam tally this year as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner split them two apiece.
Djokovic needs just one more to surpass Margaret Court and stand alone as the outright all-time leader for Majors.