Novak Djokovic: Controversies, Business & Net Worth
If you are an admirer of tennis, you definitely have heard the name of Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic is a professional Serbian tennis player currently the World’s Number 1 in men’s single.
Moreover, he is the first Serbian player to be ranked number 1.
The Serbian superstar has a record 18 Grand Slams men’s single titles and has also been number 1 for a record total of 315 weeks.
The colorful character of tennis, Novak’s off-the-court humor, and his on-court aggressiveness pull him to several controversies and mass criticism.
So, let’s get right into the article and learn everything and more about Novak Djokovic, his ATP legacy, and controversies.
QUICK FACTS:
Here are some quick facts about Novak Djokovic to get you started.
| Name | Novak Djokovic (Новак Ђоковић) |
| Nickname | Djoker |
| Birth Date | 22 May 1987 |
| Age | 36 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Religion | Serbian Orthodox |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Education | Pilic Tennis Academy |
| Profession | Tennis Player |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Father’s Name | Srdjan Djokovic |
| Mother’s Name | Dijana Djokovic |
| Siblings | 2; Marko and Djordje (brothers) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife’s Name | Jelena Ristic Djokovic |
| Children | 2; Stefan (son), Tara (daughter) |
| Height | 6 feet 2 inches |
| Weight | 180 lbs |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Hobbies | Skiing, Horse Riding |
| International Debut | 2003 |
| Awards | 6x Australian Open, 1x French Open, 4x Wimbledon, 3x US Open, 5x ITF World Champion, 4x ATP Player of the Year, Number 1 ranking in July 2011 |
| Favorite Shot | A forehand down the line |
| Favorite Food | Pizza |
| Favorite Movie | Slumdog Millionaire |
| Favorite Tennis Player | Pete Sampras |
| Active Years | 2003-Present |
| Net Worth | $220 million |
| Car Collection | Mercedes Benz, Audi |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
| Merch | Serve to Win, Signed Tennis Ball, Signed Ball |
| Last Update | 2024 |
Novak Djokovic: Early Life, Parents, and Childhood
On May 22, 1987, the tennis star was born in Belgrade, Serbia, to father Srdjan and mother Dijana.
Novak grew up with his two younger brothers Marko (born in 1991) and Djordje (born in 1995), both of them are professional tennis players.
Growing up in Belgrade, Novak’s parents owned a company named Family Sports, which had three restaurants and a tennis academy.
In addition to that, Novak’s father, aunt, and uncle were all professional skiers. Moreover, his father also excelled at soccer.
Childhood
Spending time in his parent’s complex, Novak learned about tennis at an early age.
However, at 6 years old, Novak was spotted by Yugoslavian tennis legend Jelena Gencic.
Jelena then scouted and groomed Djokovic for the next six years.
Moreover, during this time, a war broke out in Yugoslavia, and the bombing and shootings in Belgrade meant that Djokovic and his family would have to spend a lot of time in the basement.
Djokovic considered these hardships to be the drive behind pursuing his tennis career. Well, something good did come from war.
Former Slovak tennis player Marián Vajda coached Novak in 2006. In contrast to that, Boris Becker took over the role in December 2013.
Moreover, he went to the Pilic Academy in Munich, Germany, to study higher tennis levels. Novak then, at the age of 14, began his international career.
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Novak Djokovic: Dating, Wife, and Children
The Serbian superstar began dating Jelena Ristic in 2005 at the age of 19. He had just begun his professional tennis career.
The couple then engaged in 2013 and had a lavish wedding on July 10, 2014. The reception took place in a 5-star hotel named Sveti Stefan.
The duo welcomed a son named Stefan on October 21, 2014, in France. Novak and Jelena then had another daughter, Tara, on September 2, 2017.
Novak Djokovic: Height, Weight, and Body
The Serbian tennis prodigy stands tall at the height of 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 180 lbs.
His eye color is hazel, while Novak sports a dark brown hair color with a simple hairstyle.
Moreover, Novak is pretty lean and muscular. His chest size is 38 inches, while his waist size is 32 inches.
In addition to that, Novak’s bicep size is 14 inches.
Novak Djokovic: Tennis Career
Djokovic went professional in 2003 at the age of 16.
Early career
Novak ended 2001 as a triple European champion in singles, doubles, and team competitions. Mind you; he was just 14.
The champion also secured a silver medal at the World Junior Championship in a team competition for Yugoslavia.
Once he went professional in 2003, Novak won his first ATP tournament in Budapest.
He then played at the French Open and US Open junior tournaments in 2003.
Novak also participated in the Australian Open in Junior Grand Slam, reaching the semi-finals in 2004.
Novak then qualified at Wimbledon and also reached the third round. In addition to that, Novak moved up the rankings into the Top 100.
Rise to the top
When Novak turned professional, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had already established themselves as the two best players in men’s tennis.
The tennis legend made his first Grand Slam appearance when he qualified for the 2005 Australian Open.
Novak, however, was defeated by eventual champion Marat Safin in the first round.
He then went on to reach the third round of both Wimbledon and the US Open.
Djokovic climbed the top 40 in the world singles after making his first appearance in quarters at a Grand Slam event and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon the same year.
Novak then won his first ATP title at the Dutch Open held in Amersfoort, defeating Nicolás Massú in the final.
He then moved into the top 20 by winning the Moselle Open in Metz, France.
Decisive Year
Novak won a decisive Davis Cup against Great Britain by defeating Greg Rusedski.
In addition to that, Djokovic was offered to play for Great Britain. The 19-year old was ranked sixty-third in the world men’s tennis.
The champion confirmed that the talks between his family and the Britain officials were serious.
He added, “I am Serbian, I am proud of being a Serbian, I didn’t want to spoil that just because another country had better conditions.”
World number 1
In 2007, Djokovic won his second Masters’s title in Montreal, defeating the Top 3 players – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Roddick.
Novak cruised into the Top 3 with the win.
He then represented Serbia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a bronze medal in singles tennis.
The Serbian national team also clinched the Davis Cup trophy for the first time in history in 2010.
In 2011, Djokovic captured a record-breaking five ATP World Tour Masters titles and also won $12 million in the prize, a record in a single season on the ATP World Tour.
Djokovic concluded the season with a year-end ranking of No. 1.
Novak leads the head-to-head record against all members of the Big Three.
In addition to that, he holds the Number 1 position in ATP World Rankings for a record number of weeks (315).
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Tennis Rivalries
Djokovic has rocketed his way through the ATP World rankings but steadily. He obviously has a lot of on-court rivals in tennis.
Djokovic and Nadal
The biggest rivalry in tennis has to be between the Spanish ace Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The duo has faced each other 56 times. Djokovic won 29 matches but lost 27 matches.
Djokovic also leads on hard courts 20-7, while Nadal leads on clay 18-7.
Moreover, Djokovic is the first player to have won ten matches against Nadal and the only person to defeat Nadal seven times consecutively.
The duo also shares the record for the longest Grand Slam final match ever played (5 hours and 53 minutes).
Nadal, however, has won seven of their eight meets in Roland Garros’ battles.
Djokovic came out on top against Nadal at the 2019 Australian Open, winning in the final.
However, in the 2020 French Open, Nadal clinched the title, defeating Novak in straight sets.
Djokovic and Federer
Novak and Roger have played 50 times against each other. Djokovic currently leads by 27-23.
Moreover, Novak is the only player other than Nadal to have defeated Federer in consecutive Grand Slam tournament matches.
Novak has more wins against Federer than any other player.
The duo had faced each other at the Australian Open (in 2007, 2008, and 2011), where Federer won in 2007.
Djokovic also won the 2012 ATP World Tour Finals by beating Federer in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic: Injuries
Coming to the 2011 season, Djokovic won ten tournaments already. Djokovic also recorded victories at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
However, Novak’s level dropped towards the end of 2011 when he suffered a back injury during the US Open. He also had to retire from the Davis Cup.
In 2014, Novak suffered from a wrist injury that caused him to perform poorly in the Monte-Carlo Masters, losing to Federer in the semis.
Djokovic appointed Andre Agassi as his new coach in early 2017. He subsequently won the grass-court Eastbourne International tournament.
However, Novak had to retire in the Wimbledon quarterfinals and the season when he injured his right elbow.
Djokovic underwent elbow surgery in 2018 after being eliminated from the fourth round in the Australian Open.
In addition to that, he also tested positive for COVID-19, which stirred up several controversies.
Novak Djokovic: Controversies and Opinion
Every sportsperson has a colorful character who adds a dash of entertainment, both on and off-field.
In the world of tennis, that player is Djokovic.
Djokovic received a lot of criticism for his negative comment on equal pay for women tennis players.
He was against equal play, which invited outrage from the fans.
In addition to that, Novak was fined $20,000 for touching the umpire chair in the Australian Open final against Dominic Thiem.
Djokovic was also disqualified in the US Open in the fourth round after mistakenly hitting a line judge with a ball.
He was disqualified for hitting the ball in anger that happened to strike the line judge in the throat.
The line judge fell to her knees, holding her neck. “This whole situation has left me really sad and empty,” Djokovic said.
COVID outrage
Once the COVID-19 stepped in, Djokovic organized a tennis tournament in the Balkans (Serbia and Croatia) and called it Adria Tour.
He invited several world-best players, held matches in a full crowd (without mask), and hosted few crowded parties.
Well, unsurprisingly, Djokovic, along with other players, tested positive for COVID.
He, however, defended himself, stating that the “malicious” criticism he faced was unfair; Novak also claimed that he was a victim of the “witch hunt.”
His wife, Jelena, was also part of the anti-government protest against COVID, stating it was a hoax.
Jelena was among the individuals who tested positive for COVID at the infamous Adria Tour.
Corona and Vaccine
The year 2020 alone bought Djokovic a lot of mass outrage following his opinions and views.
Moreover, Djokovic refused to take the COVID vaccine following a safety measure that required players to be vaccinated mandatorily on tours.
In addition to that, Novak announced he would be staying in a mansion instead of isolating himself in a hotel along with other players in the US Open.
He criticized that it was tough for most players not to open their windows and be occupied in a small room.
The Serbian also announced on the eve of the US Open that he was forming a new association to represent the very players he denied sharing a hotel.
Moreover, his rebel association was men-only, pulling further outrage from the fans and the players.
The ATP was not satisfied with the move, saying that “now is a time for unity, rather than internal division.”
Novak Djokovic: Off the court and Charity
Novak is a humorous character off the court. His off-beat interviews and his imitation of famous tennis players support the statement.
Similarly, Novak, in 2007, established the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
His organization’s mission is to assist children from disadvantaged communities to grow and develop in safe environments.
His foundations have built 43 schools altogether and supported almost 21k children and a thousand families; They also have a partnership with the World Bank.
In addition to that, Novak has also participated in charity matches to raise money to reconstruct the Avala Tower and help the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Following his hearty social services, Djokovic was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Not only that, but Djokovic also financially supported the victims of the 2014 Balkans floods.
Business Ventures
Djokovic also has a hand in business. He endorses the Serbian telecommunications company Telekom Srbija.
Similarly, Djokovic also endorses the nutritional supplement brand, Fitline.
In 2009, Novak signed a 10-year deal with Sergio Tacchini, an Italian clothing company.
However, his contract was heavy on incentives which the company fail to pay due to Djokovic’s disproportionate success in 2011.
The contract with the company terminated, and Djokovic signed a contract with Uniqlo.
The five-year contract is reportedly worth €8 million a year.
In addition to that, Djokovic signed as the brand ambassador of Swiss watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet.
The champion also signed a deal with the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz.
In 2014, Djokovic started endorsing the Japanese watch brand Seiko after ending his contract with Audemars Piguet.
Moreover, in 2017, Novak signed as a Lacoste brand ambassador after a five-year deal ended with Uniqlo.
Family business
He has also uplifted his family business which was a sports complex named Family Sport.
The Family Sport relaunched their restaurant business by opening Novak Cafe and Restaurant.
The company’s day-to-day activities are mostly handled by Novak’s father and his uncle, Goran.
Moreover, they also expanded into real estate, sports entertainment, events, and sports apparel distribution.
Surprisingly, the company also bought a 250-series ATP tournament (Dutch Open) and transferred it to Serbia, renaming it as Serbia Open.
In addition to that, Novak also has his own line of nutritional food products, Djokolife.
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Achievements and Awards
Throughout his golden career, Novak has achieved several awards and achievements.
Djokovic is currently Number 1 in the ATP male singles’.
In addition to that, Djokovic won 18 Grand Slam men’s single, including a record nine Australian Open titles.
Moreover, the champion is also the only player to complete the Golden Masters career.
He’s been breaking records all through his career. At the age of 20, Novak broke Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s streak of 11 consecutive majors.
Djokovic won his first Grand Slam singles at the Australian Open in 2008.
In addition to that, Djokovic received the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award four times.
He was also the former ATP player council president. Djokovic served office from 30 August 2016 to 30 August 2020.
Novak became the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four major titles at once. The champion achieved this feat when he won the French Open in 2016.
Novak Djokovic: Some unknown facts
Djokovic is gluten intolerant and is strictly on a vegan diet. But later, he did add fish to his diet.
Novak is multilingual. He speaks Serbian, Italian, German, and English.
His comical personality has earned him the nickname “Djoker.” It is a combination of his surname and the word “joker.”
Novak is known for his off-court humor and impressions of his fellow players. His impressions of Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nada, Lleyton Hewitt have also drawn media popularity.
Djokovic is also featured in a music video of the song “Hello” by Martin Solveig and Dragonette.
Similarly, Novak was also a part of the Hollywood movie The Expendables 2, playing a cameo role of himself.
However, Novak’s part was later cut out of the final version.
In addition to that, he is a huge supporter of the Red Star Belgarde, AC Milan, and S.L Benfica. He is also seen supporting Croatian National Team.
Djokovic admires the Croatian captain, Luka Modric.
Moreover, The Hunger Games is Djokovic’s all-time favorite book.
Novak Djokovic: Net Worth
It is evident that Novak has moved into business and has many endorsement deals with top brands.
With his family business booming and sponsorships, Novak reportedly has a net worth of $220 million.
Novak Djokovic: Social Media
The sports personality has a huge fan following on Instagram with over 8 million followers.
Similarly, his Twitter following is huge, too, with close to 8.7 million followers.
In addition to that, Djokovic has a follower count of 9.9 million on Facebook.
FAQs
Is Novak Djokovic vegan?
Novak has eliminated animal products from his diet following his discovery of gluten intolerance. However, he does have fish on his diet.
Who is the coach of Novak Djokovic?
Andre Agassi is the coach of Djokovic starting from the 2017 French Open. In addition to that, Djokovic also unveiled former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanišević to his coaching team in 2019.
