Novak Djokovic revealed on Thursday that he believes he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food during his brief 2022 stay in Melbourne before his deportation on the eve of the Australian Open.
The tennis star, formerly ranked world number one, faced deportation after his visa was cancelled due to his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. During this period, he was detained in a hotel while unsuccessfully contesting his expulsion. “I had health issues. I realized in Melbourne, the food I consumed at the hotel had poisoned me,” Djokovic told GQ magazine in an extensive interview.
“I made some discoveries after returning to Serbia. I’ve never shared this publicly, but tests showed extremely high levels of heavy metals, including lead and mercury,” he added.
Novak Djokovic has claimed he might have been poisoned during his stay in a Melbourne immigration hotel three years ago https://t.co/Tq4VZxrALT pic.twitter.com/UXnYrJjCyd
— Mirror Sport (@MirrorSport) January 9, 2025When questioned about the contamination of his food, Djokovic responded, “That’s the only way.”
GQ magazine contacted Australia’s Department of Home Affairs for comment but received no response due to privacy concerns.
Djokovic will compete for his 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th major when the season’s first Grand Slam begins on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic has said he was "poisoned" by the food he ingested while detained during his 2022 Australian Open visa saga, the former world number one told GQ in an interview released on Thursday. 🎾https://t.co/AUrMrlCKKN
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) January 9, 2025Despite the 2022 ordeal, Djokovic maintains he harbours no resentment towards the Australian people. A year after the incident, he returned to Melbourne and won the title. “Many Australians have apologized for how I was treated, expressing embarrassment over their government’s actions at the time,” he noted.
“The government has since changed and reinstated my visa, and I’m very grateful for that. I love being there, and my results reflect my affinity for playing tennis in Australia,” Djokovic expressed.
He concluded, “I’ve never met the people who deported me. While I do not want to meet them, I’m willing to shake hands and move on if we ever meet.”
