Jelena Djokovic insists she misses her privacy amid marriage scrutiny after no-show in Novaks Australian Open 2020 win

NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S wife Jelena has spoken about the challenges of living in the public eye after she failed to attend the Australian Open last month.

The 33-year-old was a no-show in Melbourne as her husband claimed his eighth Grand Slam title Down Under in a five-set thriller against Dominic Thiem.

Jelana – who also missed Wimbledon last year after looking after their two young children – has revealed she struggles with the public attention she gets as a result of her husband.

She has claimed that being criticised for the way she looks had a negative effect on her, with social media also putting a strain on her life.

Speaking to Vesti-Online about living in the spotlight, she said: “When you are young, the spotlight and attention certainly feel comfortable.

At first, the experience does not alarm you because it can bring you some difficulties. We look at public figures and think that kind of publicity is okay.

“But as time goes on, you lack anonymity, you lack the privacy to be able to do whatever you like at any time, in any situation.

I try to resist all these expectations to always be myself and for Novak to be able to be himself.”

Addressing comments made about her, she added: “That is probably why I am being criticised by the public why didn’t I wear makeup or why wasn’t I always wearing heels.

But I decided that between the way I see and love myself and what the public expects, I choose not to disappoint myself.”

Addressing how she deals with the media attention, Jelena said: “The development of technology and social networks have contributed to making the lives of public figures available at all times.

I am aware that as a wife of a popular athlete I might be interesting for the tabloids, that is why I try not to give them much material to write about me.”