In a recent interview with GQ magazine, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, made a startling claim that he was “poisoned” by the food he consumed while detained at a Melbourne hotel in 2022. Djokovic revealed that he discovered a “high level of lead and mercury” in his body after returning to Serbia. This revelation has sparked a wave of reactions and raised several questions about the validity of his claims.
Djokovic’s visa was cancelled ahead of the 2022 Australian Open due to his unvaccinated status against COVID-19. He was detained at the Park Hotel in Melbourne for several days while his appeal against deportation was being processed. During his detention, Djokovic claimed that the food he was served at the hotel was the cause of his health issues.
In the interview, Djokovic stated, “I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me. I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury.” He insisted that the poisoning could only have happened while he was in detention.
Australian experts have expressed skepticism about Djokovic’s claims. Dr. Barbara Cardoso, a nutritional biochemist at Monash University, pointed out that mercury is typically found in fish and shellfish, and it would be unlikely for such food to cause poisoning in the short time frame of Djokovic’s detention. Damian Maganja, a research fellow in food policy, also noted that the meals served at the hotel were likely prepared in large quantities and there haven’t been other reports of similar issues.
When questioned about his claims during a press conference ahead of the 2025 Australian Open, Djokovic chose not to delve further into the matter. He emphasized his focus on tennis and redirected inquiries to the GQ article for more information.
While Djokovic’s allegations have stirred controversy, the lack of concrete evidence and expert skepticism suggest that the truth behind his claims remains unclear. As the tennis world turns its attention to the upcoming Australian Open, Djokovic’s past experiences continue to be a topic of discussion and debate.
Novak Djokovic in 2025
Currently the world no.7, Novak played his last match on the 3rd of January when he lost to world no.171 Reilly Opelka 7-6(6) 6-3 in the quarter in Brisbane (draw).
Until now, during this year Djokovic owns a 2-1 match record.
