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

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

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

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

'Peace of God, Christ is born! Merry Christmas,' he captioned the pics.

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

The reason different Christian faiths celebrate Christmas on different dates comes down to which 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) marks Christmas Day on January 7

While most adopted the Gregorian Calendar created by Pope Gregory in 1582, Orthodox worshippers opted to stick with the less accurate Julian Calendar.

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

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

Jelena once recalled: 'Us getting together was like science fiction almost. I was a student barely getting by, and he was a very young tennis player who also had no money to spare on expensive trips.

'Airplanes were, at the time, something utterly out of our reach. We contrived and devised these plans: how to meet, how to make our relationship work.'

After graduating the couple set up home together in Monte Carlo, where Jelena attended the International University of Monaco for her master's degree.

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

After dating for a number of 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 daughter Tara in September 2017.

Djokovic said: 'Whether I'm winning or losing, she's always there. Family's always there. When I go back home, I'm not a tennis player anymore. I'm a father and a husband,' he said years ago.

'The Joker' will be trying 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 his coach after announcing the sensational appointment last November

'That's a kind of balance that I think allows me to play this well. Ever since I got married and became a father, I haven't lost many matches, I won many tournaments. I suggest that 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 sport’s history.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray, 37, who retired from playing in August 2024 after a glittering 19-year career, is part of his long-time rival’s coaching set-up for the Australian Open.

The two were pictured on the practice court on Tuesday, as Djokovic chases his record-extending 11th major down under.

The Serbian kicked off his season last week in Brisbane with a defeat by Reilly Opelka. The 37-year-old will find out his first-round opponent in Melbourne on Thursday when the draw is made at 14:30 local time (01:30 GMT).