In an unexpected turn that has shaken the tennis world,Jelena Djokovic, wife of the legendaryNovak Djokovic, starred in an emotionally charged press conference in Belgrade. In front of the cameras, he threw a folder full of documents on the table andpublicly accused her husband of family betrayal.
According to Jelena, Novak would havesecretly signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the Chinese company Hengli Sports Group, valued at50 million dollars, who transfers the image rights of his youngest son,Stefan Djokovic, until he turns 18 years old. The condition: Stefan must move to Beijing to train from 2026.
With tears in her eyes, Jelena exclaimed to the press: “I didn’t know anything!” He stated that he feltbetrayed and deceivedby the father of her children, ensuring that she would never have allowed an agreement that affected Stefan’s future. “This is not a business, it is my family,” he added between sobs.
Minutes later, the Serbian tennis player’s spokesperson issued a brief statement, describing the press conference as a“internal misunderstanding”and denying any legal irregularity. However, he did not deny the existence of the contract with Hengli Sports Group, which further ignited the controversy on social networks.
In less than two hours, the news becameworld trend. Millions of users inX (formerly Twitter)yInstagramdebated between ethics and ambition, while hashtags like#JelenaVsNovaky#StefanDjokovicThey accumulated thousands of mentions. Some supported Jelena; others defended Novak’s sporting vision.
From Beijing, a spokesperson forHengli Sports Groupconfirmed his “interest in collaborating with the Djokovic family”, although he avoided referring to Stefan’s contract. “We seek to form global alliances with emerging sports talents,” he indicated, further fueling suspicions of a real and confidential agreement.
Sports analysts and jurists have begun to debate thelegal and ethical implicationsof the case. Some believe that the agreement could violate regulations onexploitation of minors, while others point out that the image rights of celebrities’ children are usually managed in advance for commercial reasons.
Several tennis figures, includingMarian VajdayAna Ivanovic, expressed their surprise at the situation. “Novak has always protected his private life; this is not like him,” said one former coach. Others, however, maintain thatthe pressure of international contractsIt can lead to drastic decisions.
Close sources assure that the relationship between Novak and Jelena is going throughits worst moment since 2018, when rumors of separation circulated. Jelena’s public appearance and defiant tone suggest a breach of trust that could haveboth personal and professional repercussions.
While lawyers review contracts and international media amplify the story, the Djokovic family faces one of themost turbulent episodes of his public life. Nobody knows if there will be reconciliation, but the damage to the image of the world tennis number one already seems irreversible.
Jelena Djokovic’s press conference has opened a deep debate on theboundaries between sport, fame and family. In a world where ambition knows no boundaries, the Djokovic story reminds us that, sometimes, the greatest challenge is not on the court, but at home.
