"Not to disappoint who I am": Novak Djokovic's wife reveals missing privacy after being scruitnised for wearing less makeup, no heels

Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, has revealed that she missed her private life. The 38-year-old has been married to the former world number one since 2014. The couple has two children: a son, Stefan and a daughter, Tara.

Jelena was recently quoted in a report discussing the scrutiny she has gone through after being associated with Djokovic. She revealed that she was criticised for not wearing makeup or heels but that she founded a way to deal with such remarks.

“We look at public figures and think that kind of publicity is fine,” she said. “But, as time goes by, you miss even anonymity, you miss the privacy of being able to do what you want at any time, in any edition. I try to resist all these given forms, to be myself, and Novak himself. Sometimes that's why I suffer criticism for not wearing make-up or why I'm not always in heels, but I decided that between the way I see and love myself, and how the public expects it, to choose not to disappoint who I am."

Djokovic is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles. The Belgrade-born is going through a difficult 2024 season, and he has yet to play in a final of any event.

Djokovic will now have to wait even longer to reach another final. He is currently spending time on the sidelines after having surgery on his knee.

The legendary tennis star suffered a knee injury during the French Open, which forced him to withdraw from the competition just before the start of the quarterfinal against Norway’s Casper Ruud. After the surgery, it is not clear whether Djokovic will be able to take part in the upcoming Wimbledon or the Paris Olympics.