Who are Novak Djokovic’s parents (via Getty) Tennis legend Novak Djokovic became a sensation on the court with his stellar show. However, behind his success are his parents, Srdjan and Dijana Djokovic. They have supported his dream from the very beginning. Even though they didn’t have a tennis background.The couple faced financial struggles, political unrest, and difficult living conditions while raising their family in Serbia during the 1990s. Even with limited resources, they believed in Novak’s talent. The couple made countless sacrifices to help him become the star he is today!
Who are Novak Djokovic’s parents?
Novak Djokovic was born on May 22, 1987. His father is of Serbian heritage, while his mother has Croatian roots. Although neither parent played professional tennis, both had strong sporting backgrounds. Srdjan was a professional skier and later worked as a ski coach at Kopaonik, one of Serbia’s most popular mountain resorts. Srdjan and Dijana first met in Kopaonik before moving to Belgrade. After getting married, they started several small businesses to support their growing family. They operated a pizzeria, sold sports equipment, and were involved in building tennis courts near their restaurant. Those courts unexpectedly became the place where young Novak discovered his passion for tennis.According to Srdjan, Novak was only three years old when he became fascinated with the tennis courts. He often spent time watching workers and helping them with small tasks. Seeing his son’s excitement, Srdjan bought him a small racket and a soft ball. From that moment, tennis became Novak’s favourite One of the biggest influences on Novak’s early development was renowned Serbian coach Jelena Gencic. She noticed his enthusiasm while running a tennis camp. She recognised his natural ability.Growing up was far from easy. Serbia experienced wars, sanctions, and economic difficulties during Novak’s early years. Speaking about his childhood, Djokovic has explained that life was very different from many other players on the professional tour. He recalled how conflicts and international restrictions made travelling to junior tournaments extremely difficult. It also created many obstacles for his tennis development.Despite those hardships, his parents never gave up on his dream. Djokovic has said they faced serious financial and emotional challenges but continued to support his ambition of becoming a professional player. He often says he carries deep gratitude for everything they sacrificed because their dedication made his career possible.Djokovic has also spoken warmly about his mother, describing Dijana as the person who kept the family united through difficult times. He has praised her strength, saying she successfully managed the household and cared for three energetic sons while handling every challenge that came her way.Srdjan and Dijana later welcomed two more sons, Marko and Djordje, who also played competitive tennis. Today, the Djokovic family remains close knit! While Novak Djokovic continues to credit his parents for believing in him!