Djokovic Admits Leaving Family Is Painful Despite Career Success

Tennis champion Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, has revealed that the emotional difficulty of leaving his family for his career remains as profound as when he first started competing internationally. At 39 years old, Djokovic has recently participated in major tournaments including Wimbledon, the French Open, the Italian Open, and the Cincinnati Masters, underscoring the demanding schedule that necessitates extensive travel. He is currently promoting a new Prime Video documentary titled "Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter," scheduled to premiere on August 20.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Djokovic highlighted the crucial role his wife, Jelena Djokovic, plays in maintaining their family life. Jelena, 40, is credited with keeping their household stable and nurturing their two children, son Stefan, aged 12, and daughter Tara, aged 8. Djokovic expressed that Jelena has been instrumental in helping the children cope with his prolonged absences, a situation he finds deeply distressing. He shared, "She was keeping the household together, nurturing our children, and helping them also overcome—as they’ve grown older—the absence of their father, which is something that hurts me the most, even these days."

Djokovic, who recently moved from Serbia to Athens, Greece, reiterated the significant emotional cost of being away from his family home. He described the experience as "incredibly painful" but also noted that these absences have, paradoxically, allowed him to be more present and engaged when he is able to spend time with his wife and children. He stated, "When you leave your kids and your wife, I think it’s not a cliché [to say] it’s actually very painful. But you do your work, and you try to do the best that you can. When you come back home, you try to be as present as you possibly can."

The foundation of Novak and Jelena's relationship, which began when they met as teenagers in Serbia, provides a strong support system. They reconnected as his professional tennis career gained momentum, even as he was training in Monte Carlo. This enduring partnership is essential as Djokovic continues to pursue further Grand Slam titles, a pursuit that inherently requires significant time away from his family.