Novak Djokovic is accused of playing mind games with Australian Open title rival Nick Kyrgios

Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge has accused Novak Djokovic of playing mind games with Nick Kyrgios after the Serbian superstar ruined the Australian’s chances at the Australian Open.

Kyrgios, 27, has been in terrific form over the past 12 months and has raised expectations that he will become the first male tennis player since Lleyton Hewitt to bring a Grand Slam back to Australia.

Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge has accused Novak Djokovic (pictured with Kyrgios after the 2022 Wimbledon final) of playing mind games with Nick Kyrgios after the Serbian superstar denied the Australian’s chances at the Australian Open

When Woodbridge asked Djokovic who the biggest threats in the tournament were, the 21-time Grand Slam champion didn’t mention the outspoken Australian

However, when Woodbridge asked Djokovic who the biggest threats in the tournament were, the 21-time Grand Slam champion made no mention of the outspoken Australian.

Woodbridge explained that he felt Djokovic failed to mention him on purpose and is trying to get inside Kyrgios’ mind before the two meet again.

“I asked him who he thought the contenders were and he went through (Rafael) Nadal and (Jannik) Sinner and (Casper) Ruud and I said ‘no Kyrgios?'” Woodbridge said on the Nine’s Today show.

Woodbridge explained that he felt Djokovic neglected to mention the Australian on purpose and is trying to get inside Kyrgios’ mind before the two meet again

“He just smiled and said, ‘Of course there’s Nick Kyrgios and we know what he’s capable of’. Then he just walked on and said, “I hope he’s ready, he didn’t have a great preparation.”

“And he laid out a few things for Nick to think about… that’s a little bit of locker room talk and jargon that gets into each other’s heads and they like to do that, those two, it makes good drama for all of us.” ‘

The Australian star and Serbian champions will face off in a one-off match on the eve of the Australian Open on Friday at 18:30 AEDT at the Rod Laver Arena.

The Australian star and Serbian champions will face off in a one-off match on the eve of the Australian Open on Friday at 18:30 AEDT at the Rod Laver Arena

The repeat of the 2022 Wimbledon final will also mark Djokovic’s first return to Melbourne since his controversial ban from the Australian Open 12 months ago.

Djokovic was at the center of a diplomatic storm in January last year when he was deported for failing to comply with vaccination restrictions in place at the time.

The Serb, who was not vaccinated against Covid-19, had his visa canceled twice after arriving in Australia ahead of the Australian Open.

Kyrgios has long campaigned for Djokovic’s return to Australia and has urged fans and authorities to welcome his rival back

Kyrgios has long campaigned for Djokovic’s return to Australia and has urged fans and authorities to welcome his rival back.

“I hope he’s here for the sport, we just saw one of the legends leave the sport – Roger [Federer] — and those are some shoes no one will ever fill,” the Australian told the Herald Sun in October.

“So I think while Novak and Rafa [Nadal] are still there, we need those kind of players to be in the Grand Slams.

“People of Australia, we love the Australian Open […] We want to see the best players in the world there.”