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Novak Djokovic Reflects on "Trauma" from 2022 Australian Deportation Ahead of 2025 Open

Posted : 06 January 2025

Novak Djokovic has opened up about the lingering trauma he feels when returning to Melbourne, three years after being deported from Australia due to the country’s Covid-19 regulations. The 37-year-old Serbian tennis star had his visa revoked in January 2022 on the grounds of “health and good order” due to his unvaccinated status, which led to a five-day stint in an immigration hotel while he unsuccessfully appealed the decision. As a result, Djokovic was forced to miss the 2022 Australian Open.

 

Although Djokovic returned the following year to win a record 10th Australian Open title, the experience of being detained and deported still affects him. Speaking to Melbourne’s Herald Sun, Djokovic admitted that every time he goes through passport control in Australia, he feels anxious about being detained again. Despite these emotional reminders of his past ordeal, he stressed that he holds no grudges against the country.

 

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, while acknowledging the challenges posed by Covid, expressed a preference for focusing on the upcoming 2025 Australian Open rather than revisiting past events. She emphasized that the federal government had handled the visa decisions in 2022, and stated that Covid had impacted everyone, regardless of their background.

 

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also criticized the previous government's handling of Djokovic’s situation, particularly their decision to deny him the opportunity to meet with his Orthodox priest during the Christmas period. Albanese, who took office in May 2022, described the incident as hard to justify and expressed his astonishment over the decision. As Djokovic prepares for the 2025 Australian Open, he is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam title.

 

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