Novak Djokovic fought hard to defeat American Nishesh Basavareddy 3-1 in sets during his opening match at the Australian Open, and this time, unlike in previous years, he was supported by his wife, Jelena. While Djokovic has had to cope with the disappointment of not winning a Grand Slam in 2024, which saw him come up short in Melbourne when Jannik Sinner claimed the title, this year he enters with a renewed sense of determination and a new coach, Andy Murray.
The Australian Open has always been one of Djokovic’s most successful tournaments, with the 37-year-old holding the record for the most titles won by any player in the Open era with 10. However, last year’s loss in Melbourne was a tough blow. In the past two years, Jelena Djokovic had not traveled to Australia, which was a source of disappointment for Novak. But this time, as he embarks on another title bid, his family is by his side.
Reflecting on the importance of family in his career, Djokovic shared at the 2023 Australian Open: “I don’t know when the end of my professional career will come, but right now I have the motivation and support of my loved ones. It’s something that’s often underestimated but is crucial, especially as a father. Being away from my children is not something that makes me happy. It’s all about finding balance with my wife and the people in my life.”
In 2024, Jelena and their two children, Stefan (9) and Tara (7), were not in Melbourne, with Jelena confirming in a reply to a comment on X that she would not be attending. However, with his family now present in Melbourne, Djokovic responded strongly to an early challenge from Basavareddy. After losing the first set 6-4, he bounced back to win the next three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Djokovic’s victory in front of his wife set him up for a second-round clash with Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria.
