Melbourne [Australia], January 10: Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has made a startling claim that he was poisoned with “lead and mercury” during his detention in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, where he was deported due to his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
As Djokovic returns to Australia with hopes of securing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title and a historic 25th Grand Slam win, the country holds both cherished memories and darker moments for the tennis legend. The 37-year-old was detained in a Melbourne hotel and later deported just days before the 2022 Australian Open due to his vaccination stance, preventing his participation in the tournament.
In a recent interview with GQ, Djokovic revealed the physical toll his detention took on him, saying that after returning to Serbia, he discovered alarming levels of “heavy metals” in his body, including high amounts of lead and mercury. “I had some health issues… I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me,” Djokovic shared. “I had a really high level of heavy metal. Lead and mercury.”
The former World No. 1 also shared his experience in the Melbourne facility, which he described as a “jail room” compared to other athletes’ quarantine accommodations. Djokovic explained that he was given a list of items he could receive, each assigned points, but when he filled out the list with 60 points, the authorities later claimed he was only allowed 30 points.
Djokovic also spoke about the political nature of his deportation. “That is the actual reason why I was deported from Australia,” he said, explaining that the case was politically motivated. “It had nothing to do with the vaccine or COVID. It’s just political… politicians could not stand me being there. For them, it was less damage to deport me than to keep me there.”
Despite the incident, Djokovic emphasized that he holds no grudges against the Australian people, noting that many approached him later to express regret for the treatment he received, which they felt was an embarrassment. “I never held any grudge against the Australian people. I actually love being there,” he said, appreciating the support he received from the public.
Now, with his visa reinstated under a new government, Djokovic is focused on his tennis career. His next match at the 2025 Australian Open will see him face USA’s Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round on Sunday.
Djokovic’s last ATP tour-level title came at the 2023 ATP Paris Masters, and his most recent Grand Slam victory was at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev. Additionally, Djokovic participated in the Brisbane International, though he lost to Reilly Opelka in the quarterfinals. As the Australian Open begins, he will be teaming up with former rival Andy Murray as part of a coach-player duo.
This marks another chapter in Djokovic’s career as he continues to push for new records while reflecting on past challenges, including the controversial 2022 deportation.