Novak Djokovic’s Rival Outraged Over Poisoning Incident 3 Years Ago: What Happened?

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic recently made a shocking revelation, claiming that he was “poisoned” while being detained in Australia three years ago. The incident occurred when Djokovic was deported from the 2022 Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic Reveals Being “Poisoned” During Detention in Australia

In an interview with GQ, the Serbian tennis star disclosed that after returning to Serbia in 2022, he underwent medical tests that revealed alarming levels of lead and mercury in his body. Djokovic attributed this to the food he consumed during his five-day detention at an immigration facility in Melbourne.

“I experienced some health issues. And I realized that at the hotel in Melbourne, I was served some food that led to me being poisoned,” he told GQ.

Djokovic further revealed: “I made some discoveries when I returned to Serbia. I’ve never shared this publicly before, but the findings showed I had very high levels of heavy metals. I had lead, very high levels of lead and mercury.”

Nick Kyrgios Voices Support for Djokovic

Australia’s No. 1 tennis player, Nick Kyrgios, expressed his sympathy and support for Djokovic during a press conference ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. As an Australian, Kyrgios acknowledged that his country had treated Djokovic unfairly.

“No, I haven’t spoken to him. I didn’t even know about this,” Kyrgios admitted. “But I’ll be honest… we treated him like trash, that’s for sure. We shouldn’t have done that,” he added.

AO 2025: A Historic Milestone for Djokovic?

The 2025 Australian Open could be a pivotal event in Djokovic’s career, as he aims for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title. With this historic achievement within reach, Djokovic has enlisted the help of Andy Murray, a former rival, as part of his coaching team.

This collaboration has garnered significant attention from the tennis community. Murray and Djokovic have shared numerous classic matches, including an intense semifinal in 2012. Now working together, fans are eagerly anticipating how this partnership will play out in their quest for success.

If Djokovic triumphs, it will mark an unprecedented moment in tennis history—former rivals joining forces to win a Grand Slam. Additionally, winning the 2025 Australian Open would hold special significance for Murray, as it would be his first Australian Open title. Despite reaching the final five times, Murray has never claimed the trophy, with four of those losses coming at the hands of Djokovic—the very man he’s now helping to secure victory.