Djokovic’s awkward first date

Novak Djokovic has revealed how he survived a real-life break point to forge one of the great love matches in tennis.

The world No.1 admits he got his game plan all wrong for his first date 10 years ago with now-wife Jelena, who was left underwhelmed by Djokovic’s choice of a Monte Carlo sports bar.

But that was just the start of his romantic struggles.

“I knew she liked steaks so I ordered for her,” Djokovic said in the latest instalment of Jacob Creek’s Made By film series, shot on location in Monaco.

“Awkward moment. He wants to order for me,” Jelena recalled.

A decade on and the couple now laugh about their uncomfortable sports bar meeting and in the second film series featuring the tennis superstar, they share other memorable moments that have “real meaning” in his life.

“My first date with my wife was a pinnacle moment in my life, a meal that changed me forever,” the five-times Australian Open champion said ahead of the series’ global release on Wednesday.

“Filming the story of our first date was great fun. I honestly felt taken back to being a nervous 18-year-old across the table from the most wonderful girl I had ever seen, the woman who is now my loving wife and mother of our little boy, Stefan.”

The Djokovics married the day after he won Wimbledon for a second time in 2014 and he credits Stefan’s arrival into the family three months later as the inspiration to take his tennis to extraordinary new heights.

The Serb’s victory over Rafael Nadal in the Doha final on Sunday was his 97th win since Stefan’s birth – compared to just six defeats – and earned Djokovic a staggering 15th title in 16 months.

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