Wimbledon, England – A spotlight on Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios, whose confrontations with opponents and Wimbledon officials last week made his matches even more heated when news emerged that police had begun legal action against him. Accused of assaulting an ex-girlfriend in December.
The accusations arrived on the eve of one of his most important matches, a quarter-final confrontation with Christian Garin of Chile as the favorite to win, and less than 24 hours after he overcame the five-set challenge of American Brandon Nakashima on Monday.
That match was largely uneventful by Kyrgios standards, often lacking in the fights with referees, racquet smashing and even spitting in the crowd’s direction that often occur when Kyrgios participates in a tournament.
After winning 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2 on Monday, Kyrgios spoke about how fulfilling he feels, and how he’s found some kind of balance in his life after years of turmoil. And how he was able to enjoy moments on the tennis court in a way he rarely did in the past.
“It was probably the first time in my career that I didn’t play well, aside from playing Center Court Wimbledon, the crowds so full, I was able to say, ‘Wow, look how far I’ve come,’ to myself,” he He said. “I was bouncing the ball before serving. I really smiled to myself. I was like, ‘We’re here, we’re competing at Wimbledon, and we’re doing really well mentally.'”
Hours later, news broke in Australia that Kyrgios had been charged with one count of common assault related to an incident with his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Pasari, According to The Canberra Times A statement from the police. Kyrgios is scheduled to appear in court on August 2.
“While Mr. Kyrgios is committed to addressing any and all allegations as soon as they become clear, taking the matter seriously does not warrant any misreading of the process that Mr. Kyrgios has to follow,” Kyrgios’ attorney Pierre Johansen said in a statement on Tuesday. evening.
Kyrgios did not score in the training court on Tuesday, unlike other players who qualified for the quarter-finals, including opponent Garin.
On Instagram, where Kyrgios is active and has posted statements during previous controversies, he posted a picture of himself talking with a little girl at a tennis tournament and added the caption, “That’s why I’m playing ❤️ For all my kids out there, believe in yourself.”
The charge against Kyrgios – accused of seizing Pasari during the conflict – carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
This charge creates an embarrassing situation for Wimbledon, but also the ATP, which organizes the men’s professional tour.
An All England Club spokesperson said on Tuesday: “We have been notified of the legal action relating to Nick Kyrgios in Australia and, as it is ongoing, we are not in a position to provide comment. We are in contact with Nick’s squad and he is still scheduled to play the quarter-final match tomorrow.” “.
The ATP has waited in the past for the start of legal action before punishing the player for his off-court behaviour.
But she was pressured to take action after allegations surfaced that Alexander Zverev twice attacked his ex-girlfriend in hotel rooms during tournaments, although the woman has not filed police charges and said she would not. Zverev denied the allegations.
The association, which has not commented on Kyrgios’ accusation because the legal process has not been resolved, the spokesperson said, announced last year that it was conducting an independent investigation into Zverev. The organization has not announced anything about it other than saying that it is continuing. Zverev continued to compete on the tour until he injured an ankle in last month’s French Open semi-final match against Rafael Nadal.
Championship officials at Wimbledon have imposed a $14,000 fine on Kyrgios for two offenses this year: $10,000 for spitting in a fan’s direction after his first-round victory and a $4,000 fine for obscenity in his third-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
He also violated Wimbledon’s rules against wearing colored clothing by walking down the field wearing – though not playing – red sneakers and baseball caps that were black or red.
“More interest to me,” he said Monday when asked about a possible penalty for violating the dress code. “What is that saying? Any publicity is good publicity, right?”
