Tennis legend Novak Djokovic opens up on Melbourne ‘trauma’ after treatment during Covid crisis

Jacinta Allan has said Melbourne’s reputation hasn’t been tarnished, despite Novak Djokovic revealing his “trauma” in visiting the city three years after being locked in detention and deported during the Covid crisis.

Jacinta Allan says she’s not concerned about Melbourne’s reputation after Novak Djokovic opened up about the “trauma” he faces when he visits the city.

Australian Open king Djokovic revealed the “trauma” he experiences visiting Melbourne after being detained by Border Force, locked in detention and kicked out of Australia at the height of Victoria’s Covid crisis.

The tennis legend said his treatment in 2022, when he was deported by the federal government, left him with mixed feelings about the city where he has found the most grand slam success.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, the history-making winner of 24 titles confessed he was still scarred by his brush with Aussie authorities while Melbourne was gripped by the world’s worst lockdowns.

“I have to be quite frank,’’ he said.

Australian Open king Novak Djokovic says he has mixed feelings about the city where he was detained by the federal government during Victoria’s Covid crisis. Picture: AFP

“The last couple of times that I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration — I had a bit of trauma from three years ago.

“And some traces still stay there when I’m passing passport control, just checking out if someone from immigration zone is approaching.

“The person checking my passport — are they going to take me, detain me again or let me go?

“I must admit I have that feeling.’’

But the Premier on Monday said while the visa bungle was a federal government decision, Melbourne’s reputation had not been tarnished by the scandal.

“Covid was tough for all of us. It didn’t matter who you were or what you did, it was a tough time,” she said.

“The pandemic is behind us and what I’m focused on is supporting a great Australian Open for 2025.

“We are seeing thousands of visitors flock from around the world and around the country to Melbourne for the Australian Open.”

Djokovic, who is gunning for an unprecedented 11th Melbourne Park crown and never before seen 25th Grand Slam singles title this month, was sensationally deported on the eve of the 2022 AO following a row over his vaccination status.

In farcical scenes, he arrived in Australia with a medical exemption granted by government authorities on the basis he had recently contracted covid but was booted by then Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

Police try to hold back supporters of Novak Djokovic as the tennis legend leaves the office of his legal team in Melbourne back in 2022. Picture: AFP

Reasons for Djokovic’s expulsion included concerns his presence in Australia could cause “civil unrest” and inflame anti-vaxxer sentiment.

It came after the Federal Circuit Court ruled in Djokovic’s favour in a hearing against Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews over his visa being cancelled a first time by Border Force officials in Melbourne.

He spent five days in hotel detention at the Park Hotel in Carlton before being freed but was then deported on “health and good order” grounds by the government.

Despite opening up on his angst at arriving in Australia in the wake of his visa turmoil — at a time when the former Andrews government locked down Victorians in the harshest conditions globally — Djokovic said he still held Melbourne crowds close to his heart.

“I don’t hold any resentment to be honest,’’ he said.

“I don’t hold a grudge.

“I came like right away the year after in 2023 ... and I won the Australian Open — it was my 22nd slam.

Novak Djokovic shared a message on social media with his supporters at the time he was fighting to remain in Australia. Picture: Instagram

Fans of Novak Djokovic took to the streets of Melbourne to show their support during the tense period. Picture: AFP

“My parents and whole team were there and it was actually one of the most emotional wins that I’ve ever had considering all that I’d been through the year before.’’

Hundreds of Djokovic fans protested outside his hotel while he was detained.

His family staged a press conference in Belgrade claiming his arrest was the “greatest sporting and diplomatic scandal’’ and that he had been “treated like a criminal while he is a healthy and decent man’’

Despite declaring his concerns, 10 time AO winner Djokovic told the Herald Sun: “I have many more positive things to look for and that inspire me to go back to Melbourne.

“I don’t want to, neither do I feel that one experience like that, of one week or whatever it was, will destroy everything that I have had and what I have achieved in Melbourne in the previous 15-20 years.

Australian Open Tennis. Novak Djokovic is this year gunning for an unprecedented 11th Melbourne Park crown. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Melbourne has been the most successful city or the Australian Open the most successful grand slam I’ve had in my career.

“I want to keep it that way, I hope to keep going.’’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he found it “astonishing” that in the lead-up to Christmas Novak Djokovic was denied, by the then federal government, the opportunity to see his Orthodox .

“That was something I think was hard to justify at that time,” Mr Albanese said.

Djokovic, 37, will this year embark on his first season without tennis icons Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and his new coach Andy Murray on tour as he attempts to stretch his unprecedented number of grand slam wins beyond 24.

And he said Melbourne would be the perfect place to make more history.

“I just hope to, before I retire, get at least one more title there and that is the goal,’’ he said.

“And so I look forward to it.

“I love playing in Rod Laver Arena, the atmosphere is so good — summer time — people love their sport in Melbourne and Australia and so I should look forward to going there.’’

Originally published as Tennis legend Novak Djokovic opens up on Melbourne ‘trauma’ after treatment during Covid crisis