Australian Open: Novak Djokovic still ‘traumatized’ by Melbourne Covid deportation

Novak Djokovic says he still feels “traumatized” when he visits Melbourne, three years after he was deported because of Australia’s Covid-19 rules.

Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against the virus, got his visa canceled by the Australian government for “health and order” reasons.

He was forced to stay in an immigration hotel for five days while he unsuccessfully appealed the decision and was eventually forced to leave the country, meaning he missed the 2022 Australian Open.

Djokovic returned to Melbourne the following year when the Covid restrictions were lifted and went to the win a Grand Slam for a record 10th time.

The 37-year-old Serb is back in Australia where he is preparing for the 2025 tournament, which starts on Sunday.

“The last couple of times I landed in Australia to go through passport control and immigration control – I had a little injury from three years ago,” Djokovic told Melbourne’s. Herald Sun., external

“And there are still some traces left when I go through passport control, just checking to see if anyone from the immigration area is approaching.

“Will the person checking my passport take me, detain me again or let me go? I confess, I have such a feeling.”

He added: “I don’t hold grudges. I came right after a year and won.

“My parents and the whole team were there and it was one of the most emotional wins I’ve ever had, considering everything I went through a year ago.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she preferred to focus on this year’s tournament.

“The responsibility for issuing visas is a matter for the federal government and those decisions were made by the federal government at the time,” said Allan, who was part of the government’s crisis cabinet that led Australia’s response to Covid in 2022 but was not involved in in Djokovic’s case.

“Covid has been difficult for all of us. It didn’t matter who you were or where you were from, Covid made no distinction between who it infected, how sick you were and how sick others in our community were.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized the previous government’s handling of the situation, particularly the decision to deny Djokovic access to an Orthodox priest ahead of Christmas, which most Orthodox Christians celebrate on January 7.

“At the time I commented on it. I found it strange that on the eve of Christmas, Novak Djokovic was denied by the then federal government the opportunity to see his Orthodox minister, a priest, during this period,” said Albanese, who will become prime minister in May 2022.

“I think it was hard to justify at the time.”

Djokovic is hoping to win a record 25th Grand Slam title when he competes at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park next week.