MONTE CARLO — The life of a global tennis superstar is one of constant travel, glamorous destinations, and adoring crowds. But for Novak Djokovic, the weight of that life was recently brought into sharp focus by the simple, heartfelt wish of his 10-year-old son, Stefan. The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed a poignant moment from his family life, confessing that he was forced to deny his eldest child's desire to join him on the road, a decision that underscores the profound personal sacrifices embedded within his professional success.
The Heartfelt Request
In a candid interview ahead of the Monte Carlo Masters, Djokovic opened up about the emotional challenges of balancing his relentless tour schedule with his role as a father. He shared that Stefan, who is "in love with tennis," had expressed a strong desire to travel with him to tournaments. "My son, Stefan, he's been saying for quite a while now, 'Dad, I want to come with you. I want to travel with you,'" Djokovic revealed. The request, born from a son's admiration for his father and a burgeoning passion for the sport, presented the world No. 1 with a difficult parental dilemma.
Despite the temptation to have his family by his side, Djokovic made the conscious decision to keep his children's routines stable. "I had to, in a way, decline that and say, 'No, you have to stay, you have to go to school, you have to follow the routine,'" he explained. This wasn't a rejection of his son's company, but rather a protective measure. Djokovic is acutely aware that the nomadic life of a tennis pro, with its irregular hours, constant timezone changes, and lack of stability, is no environment for a child's consistent development.
The Reality of Life on Tour
The conversation delved deeper into the less-glamorous side of the tennis tour that the public rarely sees. Djokovic painted a picture that contrasts sharply with the bright lights of centre court. "The reality of the tennis tour for me is not so glamorous," he stated bluntly. It's a cycle of hotel rooms, practice courts, and recovery sessions—a routine that lacks the foundational elements of a normal childhood.
He elaborated on the specific challenges that make touring unsuitable for his young family:
• Disrupted Schedules: The constant travel across continents wreaks havoc on sleep patterns and daily routines.
• Lack of Socialization: Life in a tournament "bubble" isolates children from their peers, school friends, and extracurricular activities.
• Uncertainty: A player's schedule is dictated by wins and losses, making it impossible to plan more than a few days in advance.
"It's not an environment that is, I think, healthy for a child to have any kind of stability and consistency," Djokovic concluded. This commitment to providing a normal upbringing for Stefan and his younger daughter, Tara, means long periods of separation, a sacrifice that weighs heavily on the champion.
A Father's Guilt and Sacrifice
The emotional toll of this separation is a recurring theme for Djokovic. He has often spoken about the difficulty of being away from his family, missing milestones, and the daily rhythm of family life. This latest incident with Stefan simply magnified that internal conflict. The desire to be a present father clashes directly with the demands of maintaining his position at the pinnacle of one of the world's most competitive sports. He acknowledged the struggle, stating that it's a constant balancing act and that the feeling of guilt is sometimes unavoidable.
Djokovic's wife, Jelena, plays a pivotal role in maintaining that stability back home in Monaco. While Djokovic is competing across the globe, she holds the fort, ensuring the children's lives are filled with the consistency he values so highly. This family dynamic is a conscious choice, a strategy to insulate their children from the whirlwind of their father's career until they are old enough to understand and cope with its demands. "We try to organize our lives in a way that the kids have a routine," he said, emphasizing the team effort involved.
Stefan's Budding Tennis Passion
The irony of the situation is not lost on Djokovic. His son's wish to travel stems from a genuine and deep love for tennis, a passion the father is delighted to see. Stefan is already a regular sight at major finals like the Australian Open, watching his father make history with rapt attention. He is reportedly taking his own tennis lessons and following the sport closely. "He's in love with tennis, so he does watch my matches," Djokovic shared with evident pride.
This creates a complex dynamic. Djokovic is simultaneously the world's greatest tennis player and a father who must sometimes say "no" to his son's tennis-related dreams. He wants to nurture Stefan's interest without exposing him to the full intensity of the professional tour prematurely. The goal is to allow the love for the game to grow organically, away from the immense pressure and scrutiny that defines his own career.
A Common Dilemma for Tennis Parents
Djokovic is far from alone in facing this challenge. Many players on the ATP and WTA tours grapple with the heartache of missing their families. The tour is a grueling, 11-month global circuit, and those with young children often spend weeks, even months, away from home. What makes Djokovic's case particularly poignant is the level of his success; his dominance requires an almost monastic focus and an unwavering commitment to the sport, which inevitably comes at a personal cost.
Other champions, like Roger Federer and Andy Murray, have spoken extensively about the challenges of touring as a father. They often utilize short, intensive blocks of family time during brief breaks in the schedule, or have their families join them for specific, longer stretches at more child-friendly tournaments. For Djokovic, at this stage in Stefan's life, the priority is clear: school and stability trump the temptations of life on the road, no matter how much it hurts to say no.
Looking to the Future
The conversation, however, ended on a hopeful note. Djokovic hinted that this policy is not permanent. As Stefan grows older, the door will likely open for him to have a more involved experience with his father's career. "Maybe when he's a bit older, he can understand the concept of travelling a bit more and we can organize for him to come for a longer period," Djokovic mused.
For now, the separation remains a necessary sacrifice. It is a testament to Djokovic's dual role as both a relentless competitor and a devoted family man. The denial of his son's wish is not an act of rejection, but one of love—a father's difficult choice to provide a normal childhood, even if it means missing those cherished moments together on the road. In the end, the world's best tennis player is, first and foremost, a dad trying to do what's best for his kids.