Novak Djokovic is speaking out about how he believes he got food poisoning during his 2022 detention in Melbourne, Australia. In a new February 2025 cover interview with GQ published Thursday, Jan. 9, the professional tennis player opened up about getting detained during the Australian Open due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Novak Djokovic and Nishesh Basavareddy share an interesting connection beyond being first round opponents at the 2025 Australian Open.

Australian Open begins January 12 in Melbourne, and the draws for the men’s and women’s singles are intriguing — and have thrown up some blockbuster first-round matches. The Athletic’s tennis writers,

Jannik Sinner will open his campaign against Nicholas Jarry, and Novak Djokovic will face Indian-origin American player Nishesh Basavareddy in his opener.

Novak Djokovic alleged in a lengthy GQ interview that he was “poisoned” by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022.

Check out the preview and other match details of the Novak Djokovic Vs Nishesh Basavareddy 1st Round match at the Australian Open 2025 here

Novak Djokovic has been handed a brutal route to the Australian Open final, potentially facing Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, & Jannik Sinner.

No. 7-ranked Novak Djokovic will take on No. 133 Nishesh Basavareddy in the Australian Open Round of 128 on Saturday, January 11.In his most recent outing, Djokovic lost to Alexei Popyrin 4-6,

Defending champion Jannik Sinner and 10-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic have landed in opposite sides of the draw for the season’s first major, ruling out a replay of last year’s semifinal encounter.

- Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns the ball to Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor during the Davis Cup final tennis match between Netherlands and Italy at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain,