Returning to Australia, after what happened in 2022, is no longer the same for Novak Djokovic. The memories linked to Melbourne obviously remain wonderful, because the Belgrade native has won ten times at the Australian Open, but the thought of the nights spent at the Park Hotel – actually intended for refugees and asylum seekers – is not easily erased.
Recalling what happened the year his visa was revoked in a long and interesting interview with GQ Italia, Djokovic explained that he lived in a sort of prison, also revealing that he had health problems due to the toxic food provided to him by the hotel.
“Many other athletes who were quarantined for 40 days were locked in their rooms, but the difference is that they were not in some kind of prison, while I was. Then, when I won the case, I was free again. If you want to call it freedom.
Honestly, I was in a rented house followed by the police everywhere I went and there was a helicopter circling around the center court where I trained. I was not allowed to access the main dressing room. So they had to find an alternative space to get me changed, take a shower and take me off the court. I was some kind of criminal.
I had some health problems. And I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne they gave me toxic food. I found out as soon as I returned to Serbia. I never revealed it to anyone publicly: the tests showed that I had a really high level of heavy metal in my body. There was lead and mercury,” explained the Serbian champion.
Novak Djokovic© CGTN Sports Scene/X – Fair Use
The Serbian champion had obtained a medical exemption, which he had submitted anonymously as was required, and is certain that he was rejected for political reasons.
“This is the real reason why I was sent away. In short, this is what the three federal judges meant with their ruling: they were not able to question the discretionary right of the Minister of Immigration. It was a political issue.
It had nothing to do with the vaccine, Covid or anything else. It was just politics. The politicians could not stand my presence. For them, I think, it was less harmful to deport me than to keep me there. Even today, 99% of people do not know why I was kicked out of Australia.
On what basis. People believe that I was kicked out because I did not get the vaccine. They think that I refused the vaccine and tried to force my way into Australia, which is completely untrue,” analyzed the Serb with great honesty.
Tennis World USA