Tennis ace Novak Djokovic has opened up about a disagreement he and his wife, Jelena, have over their children’s use of mobile phones.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2014, are parents to nine-year-old Stefan and seven-year-old Tara. After his defeat in the third round of the US Open, Djokovic joined Team Serbia at the Davis Cup.
His wife and daughter were spotted cheering him on as he swiftly defeated world No 770 Ioannis Xilas in under an hour on Saturday, losing only one game. Before the match, Djokovic shared some insights into his family life with Blic.
My children still don’t have a cell phone, my wife and I argue (about it),” he confessed. He added that his kids often complain about being the only ones at school without a phone.
He said: “The kids complain, ‘At school everyone has one except us’. It’s not easy and this is reflected on other levels as well. If everyone does something, the herd behaves like this, you have to follow them. Well, it doesn’t have to be like that. This is where I think we differ from others, because we are stubborn and active.”
The Serbian player has previously expressed his traditional approach to parenting. During this year’s Wimbledon Championships, he emphasised the importance of keeping his children active, reports the Express.
“Out of the two parents I am the one that is responsible for their activities, sports, healthy lifestyle,” he revealed during a studio interview with the Tennis Channel.
With his better half, Jelena, chuckling in the backdrop, Novak Djokovic playfully narrated: “I want them… she is rolling her eyes right now as I am speaking (pointing to her and laughing). I keep on in a way reminding them how important it is to be active, just do sports.”
The tennis ace also enthused about instilling an athletic spirit in his kids. He said: “I mean whether it is tennis or whatever it is, just be active, be out there. So I try to take them on with me on tennis every day, even if it’s the match day I want them to be here with me.”
While Djokovic relishes his role as a family guy, he’s all business at the Davis Cup front, having aced a routine singles win before smashing Greek players Aristotelis Thanos and Petros Tsitsipas in a thrilling three-setter on Sunday, with his Serbian comrade Hamad Medjedovic by his side.
Big questions hover over Djokovic’s forthcoming decisions. The star spilled the beans about ditching a jam-packed tournament agenda, choosing instead to wave the Serbian flag and chase Grand Slam glory as his top priorities.