Novak Djokovic cruises into Melbourne with a smile after ‘trauma’ talk
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has been spotted revelling in one of his favourite Melbourne locations just days after revealing the “trauma” he experiences when visiting the city.
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Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has sailed into Melbourne as he chases an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title.
The Djoker was all smiles when he touched down at Tullamarine on Monday, only a day after revealing the “trauma” he experiences when visiting Melbourne.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Djokovic confessed he was still scarred by his brush with Aussie authorities while Melbourne was gripped by the world’s worst lockdowns.
“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,” he said.
“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?”
Djokovic was detained in an immigration hotel for five days and then sensationally deported on the eve of the 2022 AO following a row over his vaccination status.
Three years later, the champion was on Tuesday snapped in a wooden boat cruising along the picturesque Ornamental Lake at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Clutching a white parasol and beaming alongside his family, it was no surprise he was spotted in that part of the city.
“I love every corner of the Botanic Gardens,” he told reporters last year.
“I think it’s an incredible treasure for Melbourne to have such a park and nature in the middle of the city.”
He spoke of his “special” 15-year-old relationship with a Moreton Bay fig tree at the garden, which he may have paid a visit on Tuesday.
“I like to ground myself and connect with that old friend,” he said.
He also spent Tuesday at Melbourne Park, taking to the court for a practice session against young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
When Djokovic walks out onto Rod Laver Arena next week, he will be gunning for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title – hoping to surpass Aussie Margaret Court who also has 24 singles titles to her name.
He failed to defend his title last year, losing to Italian Jannik Sinner in the semi-final.
“The Australian Open (has been) the most successful grand slam I’ve had in my career,” he told the Herald Sun.
“I want to keep it that way, I hope to keep going.’’
Originally published as Novak Djokovic cruises into Melbourne with a smile after ‘trauma’ talk
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