Novak Djokovic Still 'Traumatized' by Australian Open Deportation: 'Will They Detain Me Again?'

1 day ago | 5 Views

India, Jan. 6 -- The draw for the men's and women's singles at the Australian Open will be unveiled on January 9, drawing significant attention once again to Novak Djokovic, who faced considerable controversy in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Three years prior, upon his arrival in Melbourne for the Grand Slam, he was detained for not fulfilling the vaccination requirements necessary for entry into the country at that time.

In 2022, Djokovic experienced two periods in a quarantine hotel before ultimately being deported. Since that incident, he has gone on to win the Australian Open. In an interview with the Herald Sun, Djokovic expressed that he still feels traumatized by the experience.

He stated, "I have (some trauma) to be quite frank."

"The last couple of times I landed in Australia, going through passport control and immigration, I experienced some trauma from three years ago."

"There are still remnants of that experience when I pass through passport control, always checking to see if someone from the immigration area is approaching. When my passport is being checked, I wonder if they will detain me again or allow me to proceed. I must admit that feeling lingers."

Discussing how he overcame his critics, he remarked, "I returned the following year in 2023 and won the Australian Open, marking my 22nd Grand Slam title. My parents and the entire team were present, making it one of the most emotional victories I have ever experienced, given all I had endured the previous year."

Djokovic had a season without a Grand Slam title last year for the first time in seven years. He has recently added former player Andy Murray to his coaching team, who will accompany him at the upcoming Grand Slam event.

Should Djokovic fail to reach the semifinals, he risks dropping out of the top ten for the first time since 2019. He is a record ten-time champion at the Australian Open, with his primary competitors being Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!