Novak Djokovic has sensationally claimed he was ‘poisoned’ whereas in immigration detention throughout his notorious visa saga heading into the 2022 Australian Open.
The 24-time grand slam champion arrived within the nation with a medical exemption to play within the match whereas not being vaccinated, however had his visa controversially cancelled on arrival, forcing him to be deported after an unsuccessful try to overrule the decision within the courts.
Talking to GQ, the 37-year previous claimed that lead and mercury in his meals whereas in detention noticed him undergo ‘well being points’ following his return to Serbia.
“I realised that in that lodge in Melbourne I used to be fed some meals that poisoned me,” Djokovic stated.
“I had some discoveries once I got here again to Serbia. I by no means instructed this to anyone publicly… I had a extremely excessive degree of heavy steel. Heavy steel. I had the lead, very excessive degree of lead and mercury.”
Djokovic stated a foul case of flu turned so regarding he wanted a number of classes with an emergency medical staff at his residence earlier than he was capable of get better.
Nevertheless, he would go on to win Wimbledon that yr, although he was barred from competing on the US Open, additionally on account of having not been vaccinated.
The Serbian champion instructed the journal he was deported not on account of any danger to the general public, however for being ‘a hero’ to the anti-vaccination motion in Australia.
“That’s what the three federal judges stated in the long run. Their sentence is that they aren’t ready to query the discretionary proper of the [immigration] minister,” he stated.
“It was so political. It had nothing actually to do with vaccine or COVID or anything. It’s simply political. The politicians couldn’t stand me being there. For them, I feel, it was much less harm to deport me than to maintain me there.”
“Nonetheless even right now, 99 p.c of the folks don’t know why I’ve been deported from Australia. On what foundation.
“Folks assume that I’ve been deported from Australia as a result of I haven’t taken the vaccine. That I used to be unvaccinated and I attempted to type of drive my manner into Australia, which is totally unfaithful.”
Djokovic added that he bears no sick will in direction of Australia, however that he has ‘by no means met’ these chargeable for deporting him.
He has since returned to the nation for 3 successive Australian Opens, successful the 2023 version earlier than struggling his first loss at Melbourne Park since 2018 to eventual champion Jannik Sinner within the semi-finals of the 2024 occasion.
Novak Djokovic in motion. (Picture by Daniel Pockett/Getty Photos)
“I by no means held any grudge over Australian folks. In opposite, truly, plenty of Australian those who I meet, I met in Australia the previous couple of years or elsewhere on this planet, coming as much as me and apologizing to me for the remedy I obtained as a result of they had been embarrassed by their very own authorities at that time,” he stated.
“And I feel the federal government’s modified and so they reinstated my visa and I used to be very grateful for that. It’s a brand new prime minister and new ministers, new folks, so I don’t maintain any grudge for that.
“I truly love being there, and I feel my outcomes are a testomony to my sensation of enjoying tennis and simply being in that nation. I really like the sensation of a type of sports activities fever that’s in that nation all through your entire yr, significantly the tennis fever throughout that month. So I can’t wait to return.
“I moved on. Truthfully, I moved on fully. By no means met the those who deported me from that nation a couple of years in the past. I don’t have a want to fulfill with them. If I do someday, that’s advantageous as effectively. I’m comfortable to shake arms and transfer on.”
Djokovic is seeded seventh for the 2025 match after failing to win a grand slam in 2024 for the primary calendar yr since 2010 – although he did declare an elusive Olympic gold medal within the singles occasion.
He faces American up-and-comer Nishesh Basavareddy within the first spherical to begin a troublesome draw that features a potential rematch with Brisbane Worldwide conqueror Reilly Opelka within the third spherical, tenth seed Grigor Dimitrov within the fourth and world No.3 Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals.
He’s aiming to increase his file of match wins in Melbourne to 11.
