The 20-time Grand Slam winner, 34, recently boasted about being granted an exemption enabling him to attempt to defend his Australian Open title.
But after causing much consternation among the Aussies, Djokovic – who has said he is against vaccinations – is now awaiting deportation at a Melbourne hotel, having had his visa revoked.
This is by no means the first time Djokovic – a strong believer in the power of hugging trees – has attracted controversy.
The Serbian ace – who once claimed positive thinking could turn polluted water into drinkable water – has previously been rocked by allegations of cheating on his wife of seven years, Jelena.
He’s sparked drama on the pitch too, infuriating his opponents by taking “tactical” toilet breaks during matches.
Here take a look inside Djokovic’s scandal-hit life…
Cheating rumours
Djokovic has been married to childhood sweetheart Jelena since 2014 and the couple have two children; Stefan, seven, and four-year-old Tara.
But their relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
In 2019 they were dogged by split rumours when Jelena didn’t attend any of his tennis matches at Wimbledon.
The couple insisted this was down to their daughter Tara being too young to attend, but their fifth wedding anniversary on July 10 also went unmarked in public – a stark contrast to the previous year, when Jelena posted a doting anniversary message: “Love loving you my love.”
It followed comments by tennis pundit John McEnroe in July 2017, who suggested Djokovic’s run of poor form was due to “off-court issues with the family”.
He even likened his downward slide to that of golfer Tiger Woods, who split from his wife Elin Nordegren when it was revealed he’d cheated on her with 120 women.
“Woods had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player,” John said.
“So we’re starting to say: ‘Wait a minute, is this possible with him, Djokovic?'”
Novak was surprised by the comments, but issued a gentlemanly response: “He has his right to say the things he wants to say. I don’t necessarily need to agree with that. But it’s his right.”
More than friends?
Djokovic has also come under fire for his friendships with other women, including Serbian pop star Natasa Bekvalac.
Rumours the pair were more than just pals began circulating in 2011, with speculation continuing for five more years – especially when they were both seen in Ibiza on separate holidays over the same summer.
She has always denied any hint of an affair, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour-mill.
There was also speculation about a blonde lawyer from the Ukraine, named only as Victoria, whose Instagram feed revealed she followed him wherever in the world he played.
Then there was his ex-girlfriend DJ Lady Lee – Serbia’s highest paid female DJ, real name Lidija Popovic – who discussed their continuing platonic “emotional bond”.
She was quick to shoot down suggestions there was anything untoward going on between them.
Djokovic was also linked to Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, known as Dippy, whom he was seen out with in March 2016 leaving The Nice Guy bar in Los Angeles in a black chauffeur-driven car.
He later explained that Dippy was a friend of his wife’s, although Jelena wasn’t there.
It didn’t help his case that Natasa Bekvalac waded in and, according to multiple reports, even suggested “Novak would be happier dating Deepika”.
