Novak Djokovic (born 22 May 1987) is a Serbian professional tennis player who holds the men's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles. He has spent a record 428 weeks as world No. 1, finished the year at No. 1 a record eight times and completed the Career Golden Slam when he won Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. In February 2026 he lost the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, which kept him on 24 majors. This biography follows his life and career up to November 2026.
Novak Djokovic at a Glance
| Full name | Novak Djokovic |
| Born | 22 May 1987, Belgrade, Serbia (then Yugoslavia) |
| Age | 39 (as of November 2026) |
| Profession | Professional tennis player |
| Grand Slam singles titles | 24: Australian Open 10, Wimbledon 7, US Open 4, French Open 3 |
| World No. 1 | A record 428 weeks; year-end No. 1 a record eight times |
| Olympics | Singles gold (Paris 2024); singles bronze (Beijing 2008) |
| Masters 1000 titles | A record 40 |
| Spouse | Jelena Djokovic (married 10 July 2014) |
| Children | A son (born October 2014) and a daughter (born 2017) |
Early Life in Belgrade
Djokovic was born in Belgrade to Dijana and Srdjan Djokovic, and his brothers Marko and Djordje have also played professional tennis. He turned professional in 2003. He met his future wife Jelena Ristić at school and began dating her in 2005.
The Grand Slam Titles
Djokovic won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2008, and he went on to win that tournament ten times. He has also won the French Open three times (2016, 2021 and 2023), Wimbledon seven times (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022) and the US Open four times (2011, 2015, 2018 and 2023). He completed the career Grand Slam at the 2016 French Open, and his total of 24 majors is the most in men's tennis. He also won a record 40 Masters 1000 titles and a record seven year-end championships.
Olympic Gold
Djokovic lost in the Olympic singles semi-finals at Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Tokyo in 2021 before winning the gold medal in Paris on 4 August 2024, when he beat Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in the final. At 37 he was the oldest man to win the Olympic singles gold since 1908, and the victory completed his career Golden Slam, making him only the fifth player to achieve it.
The 2022 Australian Open and the 2026 Final
Djokovic was deported from Australia before the 2022 Australian Open because of his opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for entry, and he also skipped the 2022 US Open for the same reason. In January and February 2026 he reached his 38th Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, but he lost it to Alcaraz 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5, in a match that lasted three hours and two minutes. It was the first Australian Open final he had lost, and it left him one title short of a record 25th major and an 11th Melbourne crown. He said afterwards that it had been "a great ride" and suggested that his future was uncertain.
Family and Foundation
Djokovic married Jelena on 10 July 2014 on the island of Sveti Stefan in Montenegro. Their son was born in October 2014 and their daughter in 2017, and the family lives in Athens, Greece. He founded the Novak Djokovic Foundation, which supports children from disadvantaged communities, and he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2015. After stepping down as president of the ATP Player Council in August 2020, he co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association with Vasek Pospisil.
Legacy
Djokovic's records for major titles, weeks at No. 1 and Masters titles place him among the greatest players the sport has seen. His long rivalries with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal pushed all three men to extend the limits of what was possible in the Open Era, and his Olympic gold in Paris filled the one gap that remained on his career résumé.
