Novak Djokovic’s love story with his wife, Jelena, didn’t exactly start on the most charming note. The 37-year-old Serbian tennis legend, renowned for his numerous Grand Slam titles and Olympic gold medal, was less of a seasoned dater and more of an amateur when it came to impressing his now-wife on their first outing. Despite his unparalleled success on the tennis court, Djokovic’s first date blunder with Jelena, which took place over 10 years ago, is still a source of amusement for the couple today.
The steak tartare debacle: A first date to remember
During a 2016 video interview, Djokovic opened up about the memorable first date that almost went wrong. Eager to impress Jelena, the tennis star took her to a posh sports bar in Monte Carlo, hoping to make a great impression. However, his attempt to order for her quickly backfired. Djokovic, assuming he knew Jelena’s favourite dish, ordered a steak for her, only to be horrified when the waiter brought out a plate of raw meat.
Jelena, recalling the awkward moment, explained, “Awkward moment, he wanted to order for me and it wasn’t what I expected.” Djokovic had ordered steak tartare, a dish typically served raw but was unaware of this.
After calling the waiter over to explain that the steak was undercooked, Djokovic was embarrassed to learn that the dish he’d ordered was meant to be served raw. Despite the initial awkwardness, Jelena wasn’t offended by the mishap. The couple continues to laugh about it today.
Djokovic fondly added, “Whenever we see a steak tartare on the menu, it reminds us of our first date.”
A perfect proposal: from hiking to hot-air balloon romance
While the first date may not have gone as planned, Djokovic made sure his proposal to Jelena was flawless. Speaking in an interview with Graham Bensinger, Djokovic shared the details of his romantic and thoughtful proposal. “She thought we were going hiking or something like this, but we went for a hot-air balloon ride instead,” Djokovic explained.
The proposal was a grand spectacle. Djokovic had arranged for another hot-air balloon to be in the distance, with a banner reading, "Will you marry me?" Jelena, initially confused by the unexpected setup, recalled her thoughts: “Are we meant to meet another hot-air balloon on our way? Is this a commercial?”
It wasn’t long before the banner made sense, and Djokovic dropped to one knee, making the moment unforgettable for both of them.
A decade of happiness and growing family
Fast forward to 2025, and Djokovic and Jelena are celebrating over 10 years of marriage, having built a beautiful family. The couple welcomed their son, Stefan, in October 2014, followed by their daughter, Tara, in September 2017. Despite the rocky start, their relationship has flourished, and their love story continues to inspire fans worldwide.