Tennis sensation and devout Orthodox Christian Novak Djokovic celebrated Christmas with his family in Melbourne on Tuesday, while preparing for the highly anticipated 2025 Australian Open.
While the majority of Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25, many Orthodox Christians around the world commemorate the birth of Jesus on January 7, in accordance with their traditional calendar.
With one eye on capturing his 25th career Grand Slam title – and an impressive 11th title at Melbourne Park – Djokovic took to social media to share glimpses of his festive celebration. He happily captioned his photos: ‘God peace, Christ is born! Merry Christmas.’
The first photo shows him and his wife, Jelena, standing proud in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, while the second snap includes their two children, Stefan and Tara, capturing their family joy.
The discrepancy in the date of Christmas among Christian denominations arises from the calendars they follow. While many have adopted the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, Orthodox communities have chosen to stick with the older Julian calendar.
Read more:
Alexander Bublik criticizes Nadal and Murray’s retirements as a ‘circus’
The love story between Djokovic and Jelena began in their teenage years in Serbia, where they first met on the tennis courts before embarking on a romantic journey in the early 2000s. Despite the professional career in full swing Djokovic’s rise and Jelena’s departure to Italy to study luxury brand management at Bocconi University in Milan, they managed to maintain their relationship.
Speaking about their early days, Jelena recalls: ‘Our relationship was like science fiction. I was a student trying to make ends meet, and he was a young tennis player with no funds for luxury travel.’ Their ingenuity led to a meticulously planned reunion, showing their determination to make their relationship work.
Read more:
Australian Open: Three Argentinians Remain in Race to Qualify for the Main Draw
After graduating, the couple settled in Monte Carlo, where Jelena continued her studies at the International University of Monaco for her master’s program. Their bond strengthened along with Djokovic’s career trajectory, which took off after winning his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open in 2008 at the age of 18.
After several years of dating, the couple married in 2014 at the picturesque Aman Sveti Stefan resort in Montenegro, with Jelena expecting their first child at the time. Their son, Stefan, was born in October 2014, followed by daughter Tara in September 2017.
Djokovic has often spoken about the vital role of his family in his life, stating: ‘Whether I win or lose, they are always there. The family is still there. When I return home, I am no longer a tennis player; I am a father and a husband.’ He attributes much of his success to the balance that family life has given him. ‘Since I got married and became a father, I haven’t lost many matches and have won many tournaments. I recommend to every player: ‘Get married, have kids and enjoy it.’
Read more:
Tomljanović ready to challenge rivals at Australian Open
In a surprising turn of events, tennis legend Andy Murray joined Djokovic’s coaching staff last November, creating one of the most talked about partnerships in tennis history. The three-time Grand Slam winner, who put away his racket in August 2024 after a 19-year career, is now guiding his long-time rival as the Australian Open approaches.
On the practice court on Tuesday, the pair were seen preparing for the tournament as Djokovic targets his 11th major title in Australia. After a difficult start to the season with a defeat against Reilly Opelka in Brisbane, the Serbian superstar will discover his first round opponent in Melbourne this Thursday at 2:30 p.m. local time (01:30 GMT).
