Novak Djokovic reveals his trauma over being detained in Melbourne during Covid - before getting a VERY blunt response from Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan
Share:
Novak Djokovic has revealed the 'trauma' he faces whenever he visits Melbourne after being detained and deported during the Covid crisis - before getting a stern response from the Victorian Premier. Although the Serb superstar has played some of his greatest tennis in Australia, he recently admitted that he still feels uneasy whenever he sets foot in Melbourne - the city with the longest coronavirus lockdowns in the world.
![[The tennis legend was deported from the country after a row over his vaccination status (pictured) in scenes that made headlines around the world]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/05/93775147-14253629-The_tennis_legend_was_deported_from_the_country_after_a_row_over-a-41_1736142611527.jpg)
Djokovic was forced to leave Australia just days before he was scheduled to walk on court as the defending Australian Open champion in January 2022 because he entered the country unvaccinated during pandemic border restrictions. 'I have to be quite frank,' he told the Herald Sun.
![[Premier Jacinta Allan reacted to Djokovic's revelation about the impact of his detention and deportation with a blunt statement]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/05/93775329-14253629-Premier_Jacinta_Allan_has_said_Melbourne_s_reputation_hasn_t_bee-a-42_1736142611527.jpg)
'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.
![[Djokovic has played some of his best tennis at the Australian Open over the years, winning the title a record 10 times]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/06/05/93775233-14253629-Djokovic_has_played_some_of_his_best_tennis_at_the_Australian_Op-a-43_1736142611528.jpg)
Novak Djokovic (pictured) says he still feels 'trauma' whenever he visits Melbourne after being detained and deported during the Covid crisis. The tennis legend was deported from the country after a row over his vaccination status (pictured) in scenes that made headlines around the world.
