Novak Djokovic ‘parties with saucy chef’ Lauren Von Der Pool amid rumours his marriage to Jelena is ‘in trouble’


FLIRTY-love! A sexy chef is tangled up in claims about the marriage of Wimbledon ace Novak Djokovic.

Lauren Von Der Pool, 33, first met the star when she gave him diet tips.

Lauren Von Der Pool has catered for the Oscars, the Grammys and American music awards

She was later spotted with her arms draped around him at a black-tie bash.

Djokovic, 30, whose wife Jelena is expecting their second child next month, is this week battling to win his fourth Wimbledon title.

He won his third round match against Latvian Ernests Gulbis yesterday when Jelena was again absent.

The ace has admitted “private issues” have affected him since he won the French Open last year.

Chef Lauren, who cooks for tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, was first pictured with Djokovic at a ball in Perth, Australia, in 2012.

Reports claimed she had “danced up a storm” with the star, a month before he lifted his third Australian Open title.

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Novak married his childhood sweetheart Jelena on 31 July 2014[/caption]

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In February Djokovic and Jelena were caught bickering, mistakenly thinking their Facebook Live broadcast had finished[/caption]

 

She blushed when quizzed about the night, saying: “I think it’s important to have a good time but at the end of the day, you know, I just have to stay focused on the girls (Venus and Serena).”

Lauren has posted several Instagram snaps of the bash, including one with her arms around Djokovic.

Lauren Von Der Pool first met the tennis ace when she gave him diet tips

A caption said: “Thx @djokernole for being so awesome, so happy you’re still drinking your greens and coconut water.”

She posted another photo of the smiling pair in April 2015 and wrote: “When world no1 @djokernole is your fan lol! Not to be bragadocious but I’m kinda a big deal.”

Lauren grew up in Washington DC and once claimed 13 friends were shot in the city in one year.

She was almost killed at 16 when a girl hit her over the head with a champagne bottle.

Lauren often posts photos on Instagram

She said: “I would’ve died if the wound had been half an inch deeper.”

Lauren has catered for the Oscars, the Grammys and American music awards — and has been pictured alongside Tom Cruise.

She has also published a cookbook with a foreword by Venus. Asked about Djokovic, she denied a relationship saying: “Novak is a very cool guy, a very handsome man.

“I just helped him out with his diet and I wanted him to succeed, because he is really cool. He is a friend but I am not that type of person.”

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Novak Djokovic is currently battling to win his fourth Wimbledon title[/caption]

Lauren is also the personal cook for Venus and Serena Williams

Rumours about Djokovic’s marriage escalated last week when tennis legend John McEnroe compared him to golfer Tiger Woods.

McEnroe said: “Woods had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player.

“So we’re starting to say: ‘Wait a minute, is this possible with him, Djokovic?’”

The ace married childhood sweetheart Jelena, 31, in July 2014. Their son Stefan was born that October.

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Jelena is expecting the couple’s second child next month[/caption]

The star has been linked to women before and after his marriage, including Serbian model Nina Senicar and pop star Natasa Bekvalac.

His former flame, Lidija Popovic, also known as DJ Lady Lee, caused controversy when she said Djokovic would have been better off marrying Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, 31.

Deepika was snapped with him in LA last year.

Lidija once said: “Deepika would match him better. She has her own career and he has his.

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Djokovic admitted “private issues” have affected him since he won the French Open last year[/caption]

Lauren and Novak were first pictured at a ball in Perth, Australia, in 2012

That way they can pursue their own interests and have things to talk about. When he was with me Novak was always a perfect gentleman.”

In February Djokovic and his wife were caught bickering, mistakenly thinking their Facebook Live broadcast had finished.

Lidija said: “When his wife told him he was not educated, he did not respond in public. Because he is a gentleman. Not because he is a weak person.”

Yesterday Lidija told The Sun on Sunday: “If you want to know more about Novak and me you should ask him.

“He is married, with a wife and kid so my views will stay locked up.”

Andre Agassi is enjoying his work with Novak Djokovic

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