Why Novak Djokovic celebrated Christmas with his family in Melbourne on January 7

Tennis superstar and devout Orthodox Christian Novak Djokovic celebrated Christmas with his family in Melbourne on Tuesday as he prepares for the 2025 Australian Open.

While most Christians celebrate Christmas Day on December 25, many Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus on January 7.

Djokovic, who is aiming for his 25th career Grand Slam – and incredibly, his 11th title at Melbourne Park when the tournament begins on Sunday – posted photos of his Christmas celebration on social media.

'Peace of God, Christ is born! “Merry Christmas,” he captioned the photos.

The first shot showed him and his wife Jelena in front of a Christmas tree. The second was similar, but included their two children, Stefan and Tara.

The reason why different Christian religions celebrate Christmas on different dates is due to the calendar they use.

Novak Djokovic (pictured with wife Jelena) celebrated Christmas with his family in Melbourne on Tuesday

Like many other Orthodox Christians, Djokovic (pictured with his wife and children Stefan and Tara) celebrates Christmas Day on January 7.

While most adopted the Gregorian Calendar created by Pope Gregory in 1582, the Orthodox faithful chose to stick with the less precise Julian Calendar.

The couple met in high school in Serbia, first playing tennis together before starting dating in the early 2000s.

Their romance blossomed even though Djokovic launched his professional career while Jelena moved to Italy to study luxury brand management at Bocconi University in Milan.

Jelena once recalled: “Using us together was almost like science fiction. I was a student barely surviving and he was a very young tennis player who also had no money to spend on expensive trips.

«At that time, airplanes were completely out of our reach. We devised and devised these plans: how to meet, how to make our relationship work.'

After graduating, the couple settled in Monte Carlo, where Jelena attended the International University of Monaco to earn her master's degree.

Their relationship went from strength to strength along with Djokovic's career after he won his first Grand Slam at age 18 at the Australian Open in 2008.

After dating for several years, the couple married in 2014 at Aman Sveti Stefan Resort in Montenegro, when Jelena was pregnant with their first child.

Their son Stefan was born in October 2014 and their daughter Tara in September 2017.

Djokovic said: 'Whether I win or lose, she is always there. The family is always there. When I return home, I am no longer a tennis player. I am a father and husband,' he said years ago.

'The Joker' will attempt to win his 25th Grand Slam title and 11th Australian Open crown when the tournament begins on Sunday.

Djokovic now has tennis great Andy Murray (pictured together) as coach after announcing the sensational appointment last November.

“That's a kind of balance that I think allows me to play that well.” Since I got married and became a father, I haven't lost many matches, I won many tournaments. I suggest to every player: 'Get married, have kids, let's enjoy this.'

Tennis great Andy Murray shocked the tennis world in November last year when he announced he would coach Djokovic in one of the most sensational appointments in the history of the sport.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, 37, who retired from the game in August 2024 after a brilliant 19-year career, is part of his former rival's coaching staff for the Australian Open.

The two were photographed on the practice court on Tuesday, as Djokovic chases his record-extending 11th major in Australia.

The Serbian began his season last week in Brisbane with a loss to Reilly Opelka. The 37-year-old will meet his first-round opponent in Melbourne on Thursday, when the draw takes place at 2:30 p.m. local time (01:30 GMT).