Nick Kyrgios unloads on Australia with a damning five-word statement about Novak Djokovic’s bombshell Covid poisoning claim

Nick Kyrgios has slammed Australia’s treatment of his rival turned friend Novak Djokovic, responding to the Serbian star’s claim that he was poisoned while being detained in Melbourne by saying, ‘We treated him like s**t.’

The 24-time Grand Slam champion recently revealed the trauma he still endures surrounding his Melbourne Covid nightmare in 2022.

Then immigration minister Alex Hawke infamously denied Djokovic entry into the country three years ago because he was not fully vaccinated.

Djokovic was detained at Melbourne’s Park Hotel for five days as he challenged the decision before he was sent home.

In an interview with GQ ahead of this year’s Australian Open, he alleged he had been positioned during his time in the hotel.

‘I had some health issues. And I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me,’ Djokovic said.

Djokovic (pictured playing doubles with Kyrgios at the Brisbane International) blamed the food he was served while in detention for leaving him with high levels of lead and mercury

‘I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I was, I had a really high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury. 

Asked whether he believed it came from the food, Djokovic replied ‘That’s the only way.’ 

Kyrgios was fronting the media at Melbourne Park on Friday when he was asked whether he’d asked the former world No.1 about the bombshell claim.

‘No, I haven’t spoken to him on it, I didn’t know that,’ the 29-year-old said.

‘We treated him like s**t, that’s for sure. We shouldn’t have done that.’

Djokovic claimed the only food he had was provided by hotel, while he claimed his treatment was different to other athletes quarantining because he had been placed in a ‘kind of jail type room’.

Djokovic was forced to leave Australia just days before he was scheduled to walk on court as the defending Australian Open champion.

His detention came after he entered the country unvaccinated during pandemic border restrictions.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is pictured, second from left, being escorted to his flight after Australia’s federal court upheld a decision to cancel his visa in 2022

Djokovic also claimed the Australian government had him deported because they feared he’d become a ‘hero’ for the anti-vax movement

Djokovic’s visa had been cancelled by the Australian Government on ‘health and good order’ grounds, with an appeal against the decision ultimately being rejected.

The Serbian star suggested his deportation was down to fears from Australia’s Government that he had become a ‘hero’ for the growing anti-vaccination movement in the country at the time.

Kyrgios – who has been drawn to face Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the first round of the Australian Open – went on to deliver his usual outspoken views on doping and his injury battle.

‘I feel like it’s the only thing tennis has been speaking about for the last few months,’ he said of the doping dramas surrounding Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, which he has repeatedly blasted the sport over.

‘I’ve been tested four times in the last couple of months so for me it hasn’t been a problem in my career … I’m not worried at all because I’m really on top of what’s going on with my team so I’m confident I’m not accidentally putting something in my system.

Kyrgios and Djokovic have gone from rivals to mates since the Aussie lost the Wimbledon men’s singles final to him in 2022

After taking the edge off fears that a new abdominal injury could stop him playing in Melbourne by stating ‘as long as it’s not something like my wrist again, I think I can manage it’, he responded to claims media had been locked out of his practice session on Friday morning as if he and his camp had something to hide.

‘It wasn’t actually meant to be a closed session, I think it was a misunderstanding,’ he said. 

‘I didn’t mind the cameras out there and it creates a bit more of an environment, and any time I get to play in front of these fans, so many kids out there, I think that’s special for me. 

‘It’s good, body’s feeling okay after todays session, and I’m going again later today.’ 

The Canberran also discussed what the game’s been missing during his long absence with severe wrist and knee injuries.

‘For me being back, it adds a bit of question marks to what’s going to happen today. I love that. Every time I step out on court I don’t know if I’m going to be super controversial in a good or a bad way.

‘Throughout my career it hasn’t always been good but it’s added a lot of excitement to the game. I think it’s important because there are so many good players on the tour now and there’s not as many contrasting personalities, so I think it’s good I’m back and playing.’