NOVAK'S FEARS

Djokovic still feels the 'trauma' of detention when he visits Australia

- Neil McLeman

NOVAK DJOKOVIC still feels "trauma" and fears he will be detained whenever he goes to Australia.

The Serbian great, who will be coached by Andy Murray at the Australian Open, has that one remaining career goal of winning a record 25th Grand Slam singles title to overtake Margaret Court.

Time is running out and the 37-year-old clearly has his best chance Down Under, in conditions that suit him and where he has won the crown a record 10 times.

But, of course, Djokovic infamously was stopped on arrival at Melbourne Airport three years ago for not having a Covid jab and became No.1 public enemy No.1. He was deported after five nights in a detention centre, treated like a criminal and got nowhere near a tennis court.

The Australian government said he risked stoking "antivax sentiment".

A year later and all was forgiven as Djokovic returned to win the Australian Open in 2023. He insists he holds no grudges.