Novak Djokovic has opened up about the “trauma” he still feels whenever he steps foot in Melbourne.

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It is a city that holds so many memories of his success atop the tennis ranks, and is arguably his favourite to play tennis if going on results alone.

But it is also one that left a scar after the now 37-year-old’s dramatic clash with Australian authorities in 2022.

Djokovic, who is on the hunt for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles trophy, was tarred as a leper for his once-controversial stance against taking a Covid-19 vaccine. Three years ago, it was hard for anyone to get into a public venue without showing proof of vaccination, let alone squeeze through customs.

A chunk of the Australian public rallied against the Serbian star, alleging he was attempting to flout the rules. He was detained and later deported by then Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, leaving a bad taste in his mouth that has refused to disappear.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun ahead of this year’s tournament, Djokovic, spoke on the ordeal and how it has stuck with him into 2025, admitting he still feels uneasy upon landing Down Under.

“I have (some trauma) to be quite frank,” Djokovic began. “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.”

His five days in the Park Hotel in Carlton became a global spectacle. His family labelled the whole episode as the “greatest sporting and diplomatic scandal,” while his supporters gathered outside his detention centre.

The crux of the government’s decision was the “risk of civil unrest” and stoking “anti-vax sentiment”.

But Djokovic has striven to remain professional and stresses he has no lingering bitterness toward Melbourne despite the unfortunate ordeal. Three years on, the topic of Covid-19 vaccinations has almost evaporated among both the public and politicians.

“I don’t hold any resentment to be honest,” Djokovic 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. 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.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even described Djokovic’s treatment at the time as “astonishing,” especially considering the circumstances of Djokovic being denied entry into the country during Christmas.

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

With the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and his new coach Andy Murray no longer on tour, Djokovic enters this season with one singular focus — to extend his record of Grand Slam titles and claim at least one more Australian Open before he calls it a day.

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