Here is all you need to know about Australian Open umpire Marijana Veljovic along with her age, husband and salary
The ongoing Australian Open 2024 has come to its end with finalists from each category having already decided to clash for the title.
Who is Australian Open tennis umpire Marijana Veljovic, bio, age, husband, salary and Instagram
The first Grand Slam of the year was full of drama with Sinner reaching his maiden final, top favourites like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff leaving in the early stages unexpectedly, Rohan Bopanna claiming World No. 1 rank and becoming the oldest player to do so in doubles however, there is someone else who is grabbing attention.
Tennis umpire Marijana Veljovic has garnered a lot of attention from the public due to her breathtaking attractiveness.
Legendary tennis player Boris Becker found himself under fire for remarks he made on Veljovic’s appearance while providing commentary for a US Open match in 2022.
The tennis legend dipped his foot in it on during Alexander Zverev’s victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in their semifinal match while providing commentary for Eurosport. Becker apparently felt it would be appropriate to comment on umpire Veljovic’s attractiveness after noticing her seated in the chair. According to Petra Philippsen, a tennis journalist, Becker stated:
“I have to say, the umpire is extremely pretty.”
He further said:
You eat with your eyes.”
This marked some positive as well as negative comments about the former. Following Roger Federer’s 2020 Australian Open match versus Tennys Sandgren, spectators were captivated by Veljovic’s breathtaking beauty.
Ump-believable performance.👏👑
Get to know Marijana Veljovic, the chair umpire who got everyone's attention after officiating @RogerFederer's quarterfinal match.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/8vA0ThqooQ
— TENNIS (@Tennis) January 28, 2020
She has hit the headlines many times during player’s angry exchanges with her. During the last Wimbledon tournament, Jannik Sinner expressed frustration with a few of Veljovic’s choices.
Even with Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard was furious after believing he did not have enough time to get his towel during his Australian Open second-round encounter against Mackenzie McDonald last year.
As he furiously tried to wipe away sweat with his towel, he became enraged, believing umpire Veljovic to have started the timer too early before each of his serves. As per a report in Eurosport, he said:
Every match, at least I can move for the towel.
With you, I cannot.
Every time I am in a rush, even when serving normally, without the towel, I see the clock … five, four, with you it’s always the same. It’s okay.
For you, it doesn’t matter, I cannot take the towel each time, the towel is there [gestures] at the back of the court.
You don’t know, you try to understand, but you don’t take the towel.”
Who is Marijana Veljovic?
Marijana Veljovic is a tennis official from Serbia who was born on 24 January 1987. Seven years into his umpiring career, the 37-year-old has officiated several Grand Slam events.
Nothing is known about her marital status but she is believed to be single and unmarried. While her salary isn’t known, she has a net worth of $500,000.
However, the estimated total pay range for a Umpire at Tennis Australia is $100K–$106K per year, which includes base salary and additional pay. While male chair umpires earn around $7000 (£5 000) per match, female chair umpires get only $2000 (£1,500) per match in a grand slam.
She advanced quickly through the ranks after earning her gold badge in umpiring in 2015. The women’s singles final of the 2018 Australian Open was officiated by Veljovic. She was called up to the Wimbledon women’s singles final in 2019 before serving as the Fed Cup final umpire.
Veljovic has made it clear that she wants to see more women pursue careers as tennis umpires.
"If you're good enough you should be there no matter of the gender" – #DavisCupFinal chair umpire Marijana Veljovic tells us what it's like to be a 🔝 ITF official pic.twitter.com/kNGABf1uKD
— ITF (@ITFTennis) November 25, 2018