Novak Djokovic’s wife has spoken out after two recent Jannik Sinner hires.
Novak Djokovic, his wife Jelena and Jannik Sinner. (Image: Getty.)
Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena has warned Jannik Sinner that she “will not give in” in a rebuttal to the Italian hiring two former members of her husband’s team.
In response to his doping saga, the current world No. 1 and US Open champion Sinner hired Djokovic’s ex-fitness coach Marco Panichi a few months after he parted ways with the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
In addition to Panichi joining Sinner’s team, physiotherapist Ulises Badio is also heading in the same direction. Panichi only left Djokovic’s camp in May, while Badio departed in 2022 after more than five years together with the Olympic gold medalist.
Djokovic was thought to be close with the pair but has revamped his behind-the-scenes staff in recent years, with Goran Ivanisevic also moving on at the beginning of the year.
Sinner had split with his previous fitness trainer and physio because of their roles in his doping case. He announced the arrivals of Panichi and Badio on Instagram, posting with them in a selfie captioned: “Welcome to the team Marco and Ulises.”
With a seemingly deliberate effort made in poaching those close to Djokovic, the 37-year-old’s wife responded to the social media post by jokingly refuting the idea that she would be next to make the switch, commenting: “I will not give in!!!”
Her tongue-in-cheek remark was accompanied by several laughing emojis, reiterating her intention to remain with her husband despite several allies leaving for pastures new.
The reply came after Novak revealed that he and Jelena argue about the mobile phone ban that was imposed on their two children, Stefan and Tara.
The children were in the stands as their father started his Davis Cup campaign with a 45-minute victory over Ioannis Xilas on Sunday, after which Novak opened up on their relationship and parenting techniques.
“My children still don’t have a cell phone, my wife and I argue (about it),” Djokovic 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.”
But despite their disagreements over whether the kids, aged nine and seven, should be using mobile phones, their marriage appears as strong as ever.
Jelena can often be seen in her husband’s box during his tennis matches cheering him on, occasionally more vocal than some of his coaches, but she won’t be following former allies and linking up with them again for Sinner.
