NOVAK Djokovic claims he was “poisoned” by food he ate while in custody during the 2022 Australian Open visa saga.
The 24-time winner of the Grand Slam tennis tournament had his visa canceled ahead of the tournament after several days of drama surrounding the rules for entering the country due to Covid and his unvaccinated status.
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Novak Djokovic walks through Melbourne airport before boarding his flight after his visa was canceledCredit: Reuters
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He was arrested on the eve of the Australian Open in a hotel in MelbourneCredit: Reuters
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Djokovic in action in a one-set match during today’s charity tennis event Credit: Alamy
A 37-year-old Serb was detained in a Melbourne hotel shared with asylum seekers.
I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed some food that poisoned me, Djokovic, who is known for strictly watching his diet, told GQ.
“I made some discoveries when I returned to Serbia. I’ve never told anyone this publicly, but revelations that I did, I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal.
“I had lead, very high levels of lead and mercury.”
Djokovic went on to describe how he was “very ill” with flu-like symptoms as he then returned to Europe and had to be treated multiple times by the emergency medical team.
However, on the eve of this year’s Open, which starts on Sunday, he says that he has no complaints.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on the matter, citing privacy reasons, according to GQ.
VACCINATION
Djokovic missed the Grand Slam tournaments in Australia and the USA after he decided not to get vaccinated against Covid, thus violating the vaccination policy of those countries.
He has since said he was never against the Covid vaccine, insisting he was simply exercising his freedom not to receive it.
Speaking to John McEnroe in an interview broadcast in September 2023, Djokovic said: “I have never been against waxing.
Watch the frustrated reaction of security guards after Novak Djokovic disobeyed orders upon arrival at the Shanghai Masters
“I have always been in favor of freedom of choice. And that’s something we took for granted.
“I didn’t get the impression that a lot of people really had a choice.”
Djokovic also said that the bans make him feel like a “world villain”.
He added: “I just wanted to compete and I wanted to play tennis, because that’s what I do best.”
RETURN
In 2022, the tennis ace faced a tirade of backlash after he admitted to knowingly breaching isolation measures in Serbia while infected – which was punishable by up to three years behind bars under the country’s law.
The Serbian is seeking a record 11th Australian Open men’s singles title and 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne later this month.
It comes after suffering a straight sets loss to 6ft 11in giant Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International last week.
In 2024, he finished the year without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2017.
And Djokovic fans will be worried about his form on the way to his favorite Slam, after losing to world number 293 Opelka in the quarterfinals in Brisbane.
The American (27), whose best Grand Slam appearance was at the 2021 US Open when he reached the fourth round, achieved an incredible victory over Djokovic with a score of 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.
He overpowered the Olympic gold medalist with 16 aces to his opponent’s eight en route to an unforgettable victory.
Opelka reached the 17th place in the world in February 2022, but this result is still a big shock.
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Đoković hugged and exchanged words with Reilly Opelka at the end of the matchCredit: EPA
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Opelka, who stands at 6ft 11in, caused a seismic disturbance in AustraliaCredit: AFP
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