‘They’re Asking for It’ – Novak Djokovic Details Why He and Wife Jelena Won’t Let Their Children Have Phones

Novak Djokovic has opened up about the parenting approach he and his wife, Jelena, have adopted for their two children, Stefan and Tara, ahead of his highly anticipated campaign at the 2026 Wimbledon Championships. The Serb was surrounded by his family during his recent run at the French Open, but it remains to be seen whether they will also join him in London.

How Novak Djokovic and Wife Jelena Protect Their Children from Technology

Djokovic, who has won seven Wimbledon titles, is set to resume the pursuit of his record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at the grass-court Major. However, speaking to the press ahead of his opening match, the first question the Serb faced pertained to his family.

When asked about his decision not to allow his 11-year-old son, Stefan, and eight-year-old daughter, Tara, to have personal phones, Djokovic spoke candidly about the challenge of balancing their needs with his desire to protect them.

“I think it’s a hot topic for all of us in this society of today. In the world of ever evolving technology, particularly as a parent of young children, you always think how you can protect them and how you can also satisfy some fundamental needs,” Djokovic said.

The former world No. 1 revealed that both his children have been asking for phones because their friends already own one. However, he and his wife, Jelena, have remained firm in their stance on the “harmful” consequences of children’s exposure to screens.

“If all of their friends have it, obviously they’re asking for it. And it’s a challenging situation for me and my wife, but at the same time, we believe firmly that before a certain age, the exposure to screens, it’s more harmful than beneficial. So we stick to that and obviously not easy as I said,” he added.

Nevertheless, Djokovic acknowledged that it is only a matter of time before his children begin using the technology.

“We live in a technological era and it’s all around them, but we try to control what we try to control in a sense at least while they’re still very young,” he said. “And then afterwards, the time is coming anyway very soon where they’re going to be exposed and they’re going to have their own screens, etc. But we try to at least give them some protections and control before this inevitable moment arrives.”

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On the tennis front, No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic will lock horns with Wu Yibing in his first-round match on Monday, June 29. If he wins, the Serb will face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Hugo Gaston in the second round.