Novak Djokovic claims he was poisoned during Covid detention before Australian Open

Novak Djokovic has alleged that he was "poisoned" by food served during his detention in Melbourne in January 2022 amid a controversial visa saga.

In Short

• Djokovic claims he was poisoned during Australian quarantine in 2022
• His visa was revoked due to unvaccinated status and travel document issues
• Despite trauma, Djokovic returned to win the 2023 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic has alleged that he was "poisoned" during his quarantine in Australia in January 2022. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was detained after admitting to providing false information on a travel document ahead of the Australian Open 2022.

Following the cancellation of his visa, Djokovic was deported from Australia. During the legal proceedings, he was confined to a hotel in Melbourne as the complex saga unfolded. The Serbian tennis star's visa was revoked amid controversy surrounding Australia's strict COVID-19 entry requirements and his unvaccinated status, sparking days of intense public and legal drama.

"I had some health issues," Djokovic said while speaking to GQ. "I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with food that poisoned me. That's the only way it could have happened." He described his symptoms as resembling a severe flu, which led to further investigations after persistent health challenges.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed that toxicology tests conducted upon his return to Serbia showed alarmingly high levels of heavy metals, including lead and mercury, in his system.

Djokovic's detention occurred after his visa was revoked due to discrepancies in his travel documents and his unvaccinated status against COVID-19, which violated Australia's strict entry rules at the time. The legal and public uproar culminated in his deportation, forcing the tennis star to miss the 2022 Australian Open. The controversy also prevented him from competing in the US Open that year due to vaccination requirements.

Despite the ordeal, Djokovic returned to Australia in 2023, securing his 10th Australian Open title. However, he admits the experience has left him with lingering trauma. "The last couple of times I landed in Australia, going through passport control brought back memories of three years ago," Djokovic told the Herald Sun. "I still feel uneasy when passing through immigration."

While Djokovic has emphasised he holds no grudges against Melbourne or Australia, the episode remains a significant chapter in his career. "I have (some trauma) to be quite frank," Djokovic told the Herald Sun.

"The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration - I had a bit of trauma from three years ago. And some traces still stay there when I'm passing passport control, just checking out if someone from immigration zone is approaching. The person checking my passport - are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling."