NOVAK DJOKOVIC has revealed his wife Jelena dated his tennis rival and friend before they got together – but said he and the player have never spoken about it since.
Djokovic, 38, and Jelena started dating when the Serbian star was just 18 and they are now married with two children.
The pair tied the knot in 2014, before welcoming their son Stefan in the same year. Daughter Tara arrived three years later in 2017.
Jelena, who used to be a tennis player in her youth, is often spotted cheering on Djokovic at his games.
She has watched him win a record 24 Grand Slams to become one of the greatest players in the sport.
Djokovic has now revealed a surprising story about how they first met after revealing she initially dated a tennis rival of his when he was a youngster.
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The player – who was also a friend – left Djokovic baffled after showing a romantic message for Jelena after they played a youth league game.
Speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored, he said: “I believe in destiny for sure. She used to play tennis but we never met through tennis while she was playing it, but she dated one tennis player that is a friend of mine from early days.
“It was funny, because the first time I heard about her was when that friend, who was in the same tennis club as me, played a match in the regional tennis league and we won, an important match.
“He took out his jersey and underneath the jersey he had a white shirt written, ‘Jelena, I love you. This is for you’. And we were like, ‘Oh my god that’s so lame, why would you do that?’ And then, ‘Who is this Jelena?’ And it was her.”
He went on to say that the pair met shortly after and had also been in similar friendships circles.
Djokovic added: “Then she showed up afterwards and so forth, and then we’ve known each other through obviously common friends for about four, five years.
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“And actually, one of my best friends, has been her friend and they went to school together. So we were in kind of a similar, same company, and then we started dating when I went to live in Monte Carlo.
“She went to study in Italy and then we started dating, so she is basically the only serious, like long serious relationship I’ve ever had. I had obviously some few months relationships here and there. She’s truly the love of my life.”
Djokovic said he and the player Jelena once dated were actually still friends – but insisted the topic was off limits.
He added: “I actually spoke to him. I really have. He’s good. He moved on, he has his family.
“No, we actually never spoke about it. We are both very uncomfortable. We still remain mates, so it’s good.”
Djokovic and Jelena have also started the Novak Djokovic Foundation together after founding the organisation in 2007.
Jelena is the director of the charity, which aims to help children in Serbia and give them opportunities.
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