Novak Djokovic is not only a tennis legend but also a deeply religious person. A proud Serbian Orthodox Christian, Djokovic has often said that “before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian”.
Quick Profile: Novak Djokovic
| Full Name | Novak Djokovic |
| Date of Birth | 22 May 1987 (Belgrade, Yugoslavia) |
| Nationality | Serbian |
| Profession | Professional tennis player |
| Religion | Orthodox Christian |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Net worth | $250 million |
What religion is Novak Djokovic?
Novak Djokovic is a Serbian Orthodox Christian. He is a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church and has spoken openly about the importance of faith in his life. On the court, Djokovic is often seen wearing a Christian cross necklace and sometimes pausing to pray after big victories.
In 2011 he received the Order of Saint Sava (the highest honor of the Serbian Orthodox Church) and said it was “the most important title of my life, because before being an athlete, I am an Orthodox Christian”. He has also been awarded honors by other Orthodox churches (for example, a Russian Orthodox medal in 2012) and was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Serbia in 2015 in part due to his charitable works inspired by his faith. In short, Djokovic continues to identify strongly with Eastern Orthodoxy and regards it as his primary spiritual identity.
Early Life
Novak Djokovic was born on May 22, 1987, in Belgrade, then part of Yugoslavia. He was raised in a sporty family both parents were skiers and began playing tennis at age four. His childhood coincided with the turbulent 1990s in the Balkans: despite “the hardships that came with growing up in the war-torn Serbia of the 1990s,” Djokovic quickly rose through the junior tennis ranks. By age 14 he was Europe’s top-ranked player in his age group, and later he became No.1 for ages 16-and-under. To further his development, Djokovic moved to Germany as a pre-teen to train at the renowned Nikolo Pilić Tennis Academy near Munich. He returned to Belgrade and finished high school before turning professional in 2003.
Career Highlights
Novak Djokovic celebrating a win at Wimbledon in 2025. He is widely regarded as one of tennis’s all-time greats, having dominated the sport for nearly two decades. In total Djokovic has won a men’s-record 24 Grand Slam singles titles (including an unprecedented 10 Australian Open championships). He became the first Serbian man ever to win a major when he captured the 2008 Australian Open. He has also completed the coveted Career Grand Slam (winning all four majors at least once) and went further by achieving a Career Golden Slam: in August 2024 Djokovic won his first Olympic singles gold medal in Paris, adding to his Grand Slam tally. In doing so he became one of only five players ever (men or women) to hold all four majors and an Olympic gold.
Djokovic’s records extend beyond titles. He led Serbia to its first-ever Davis Cup championship in 2010. He has spent more weeks ranked world No. 1 than any other man (over 428 weeks) and has finished the year ranked No. 1 a record eight times. His other achievements include seven year-end ATP Finals championships (the biggest tour year-end event). In sum, his career includes an extraordinary string of accomplishments: Grand Slam wins across all surfaces, an Olympic gold medal, Davis Cup glory, and numerous records for titles and rankings.
Personal Life
Djokovic is married to Jelena Ristić. The couple met in high school in Belgrade and began dating in the early 2000s. They married in July 2014 in a ceremony at the Sveti Stefan resort in Montenegro. Novak and Jelena have two children together: a son, Stefan (born October 2014) and a daughter, Tara (born September 2017). The family is very close; Jelena often travels on tour with Novak and can frequently be seen in his player box.
Djokovic’s immediate family includes two younger brothers. Marko Djokovic, the middle brother, played some professional tennis (reaching the doubles level) and often trained with Novak. Djordje (Djoko) Djokovic, the youngest, also played on the pro circuit and later became tournament director of Serbia’s ATP event. Novak credits his family, especially his parents Srdjan and Dijana, with supporting his early career. (His father Srdjan was a ski coach who sacrificed much to pay for Novak’s tennis training.)
Novak is known for his disciplined lifestyle off the court. He follows a strict training and diet regimen, practices yoga and meditation, and even studies subjects like history and languages in his free time. For example, he enjoys studying Balkan history and has said he hires tutors to broaden his learning. He also maintains a plant-heavy diet (though he admits his main vices are occasional ice cream and wine). His wife Jelena is heavily involved in his life and business; she runs several of Novak’s projects, and they often work together on their charitable foundation.
Philanthropy and Charity
Outside the game, Djokovic channels his success into charitable causes. In 2007 he and Jelena founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which focuses on early childhood education in Serbia. Through this foundation and partnerships (including with the World Bank), Djokovic has funded dozens of kindergartens and schools for underprivileged children. For example, the foundation has donated to renovate schools in Serbian towns and partnered with UNICEF and the World Bank to improve education. In 2015 he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Serbia.
Notably, Djokovic even opened a free restaurant for the homeless in Belgrade. Announced in 2017, this restaurant provides daily meals at no charge to those in need, a project Djokovic described as using his own earnings to “feed all of Serbia” in gratitude for their support. He has also supported healthcare causes (donating to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic) and sponsored sports and education programs globally. These efforts reflect his Orthodox Christian values of charity and service.
Awards and Honors
In recognition of both his sporting and humanitarian contributions, Djokovic has received many honors. Sports awards include multiple Laureus World Sportsman of the Year titles (2012, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2024) and the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year (2011). He has won the ATP’s year-end No. 1 Award eight times (the most ever) and received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award (2012) and other tennis accolades.
He has also been honored with state and civic awards. In 2011 the Serbian Orthodox Church named him a Knight of the Order of Saint Sava and Serbia awarded him high national honors (such as the Order of Karađorđe’s Star). In 2012, the Russian Orthodox Church presented him the Medal of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow. In 2013 he received the “Order of Republika Srpska,” one of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s highest civilian honors. These awards often cite not just his athletic success but his charitable example (for instance, the Duke of Cambridge presented him with a humanitarian prize in 2012).
In addition, Djokovic has received honorary ambassadorships, he has served as UNESCO Ambassador and UNICEF Ambassador for Serbia, and in 2018 he addressed the United Nations on sports and education. Collectively, these awards and honors reflect both his historic tennis legacy and his off-court contributions.
Trivia
- Djokovic’s nickname is Nole, and fans often chant “Nole!” when he plays.
- Besides his native Serbian, he is fluent in five languages (Serbian, English, Italian, German and French).
- He is the only player in history to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, completing a rare “Career Golden Masters”. In fact, he has won each of those nine tournaments at least twice (totaling 40 Masters titles).
- Although Djokovic follows a strict diet, he admits that his biggest indulgences are ice cream and wine.
- He is an avid reader of history (particularly Balkan history) and even hires private tutors to guide his studies. He once noted that official history in school wasn’t enough, so he self-educates on ancient civilizations and regional past.
- In 2022 Serbian scientists named a newly discovered species of beetle (Duvalius djokovici) in his honor.
