Novak Djokovic sends cheerful message to Ana Ivanovic as Serb celebrates 'amazing' birthday with husband Bastian Schweinsteiger

Novak Djokovic has wished his good friend, Ana Ivanovic, a happy birthday. The 2008 French Open champion celebrated her 37th birthday on Wednesday (November 6) with her husband of eight years, Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Ivanovic is one of the best players to ply her trade on the WTA Tour in this century. The Serb turned pro in 2003 and went on to achieve several accolades, including winning her maiden Major title at the 2008 Roland Garros and spending 12 weeks as the top-ranked player in the WTA rankings.

Ivanovic eventually retired from pro tennis in 2016, at the age of just 29. She married 2012 FIFA World Cup winner and Bayern Munich legend, Bastian Schweinsteiger, the same year, and the couple has since welcomed three children to their family.

Ivanovic and Schweinsteiger celebrated the former World No. 1's birthday at a cozy restaurant earlier this week. The 37-year-old looked stunning in a black dress as she and her husband posed with her birthday cake. In a post that she shared on Instagram, Ivanovic wrote:

"Thank you so much for all your kind messages. I had an amazing birthday!💕🎂"

Novak Djokovic extended his warmest wishes to his good friend soon after.

"Happy birthday anchi 🤗," he commented.

via Ana Ivanovic's Instagram

For the uninitiated, Djokovic and Ivanovic rubbed shoulders in the juniors' circuit in Serbia in their early years. The duo also teamed up for mixed doubles at the Hopman Cup in 2006, 2011 and 2013. The 24-time Major winner gave a heartfelt tribute to his former partner when she retired in 2016, saying (via Tennis.com):

"I was very emotional when I watched it, simply because I've known Ana since we were five years old. We go back a long time... We've grown up together and our families have known each other."

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"My amazing dad" - When Ana Ivanovic wished her husband Bastian Schweinsteiger on Fathers' Day

Ana Ivanovic poses with husband Bastian Schweinsteiger at 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Image via Getty)

Earlier this year, Ana Ivanovic expressed her love for Bastian Schweinsteiger on the auspicious occasion of Father's Day. The Serb took to her social media handle to call him an "amazing dad" to their three children, before thanking him for his qualities as a father. She wrote:

"Happy Fathers Day, @BSchweinsteiger, to my amazing dad and to all the dads out there! Thank you for always being the most funny, caring and loving dad ❤️"

Ivanovic and Schweinsteiger started dating in 2014, having met through a mutual friend. They have a six-year-old son Luca, five-year-old son Leon, and another one-year-old son.