“I was like a fugitive,” Novak Djokovic makes chilling claims of being ‘poisoned’ during detention in Australia
World No. 7 Novak Djokovic recalled the vaccination saga, the time he was detained in a hotel ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.
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Novak Djokovic (Image via X)
Novak Djokovic made a shocking revelation ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, which begins on January 12. Three years ago in Melbourne, ahead of the first slam event of the year, Djokovic got embroiled in controversy due to his stance on vaccination. Djokovic said when he was detained in a hotel, he was fed poisoned food.
During the pandemic, Djokovic was given a medical exemption to compete at the Australian Open, but due to the strict rules in the country, he was detained for five days and was eventually deported because of his being unvaccinated against COVID-19 virus.
During an interview with GQ magazine, Djokovic spoke in length about the time he was ‘locked in the room’ and felt he was ‘like a fugitive there’.
I had some health issues. And I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed some food that poisoned me.
Novak Djokovic said
He revealed that at first; he was very sick and afterward; he had to do a lot of tests and get treatment from an emergency medical team.
Well, I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discovered that I was – I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, a very high level of lead and mercury.
Novak Djokovic added
Djokovic criticized the then-Australian government that deported him, claiming that the controversy was just political and had nothing to do with vaccines. He asserted again that he is neither pro-vaccine nor anti-vaccine, that being a professional athlete, he just wants to have the freedom to choose what’s right for his body.
Novak Djokovic feels Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could break his record
Novak Djokovic is the man with most Grand Slam singles titles. He, however, thinks his record would be in danger because of the two youngsters, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
I doubt that [that his record will never be broken]. I mean, Carlos could already be the next guy. Even Jannik. If they take care of the body, if they do things in a proper way, focus on longevity, focus on the long-term, then they can do it.
Novak Djokovic told GQ magazine
Djokovic also expressed his confidence in Alcaraz completing his Career Grand Slam soon. Alcaraz has lifted the US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. He is one of the contenders for the Australian Open where he has never reached the semifinals.
At 21, the Spaniard has four Grand Slam titles in his trophy cabinet. Sinner, on the other lifted his two Majors in 2024 (Australian Open and US Open).
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Gouri Das
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