Australian star player Nick Kyrgios is seeking an assault charge in connection with an incident in January 2021 involving his former girlfriend to be dismissed on mental health grounds, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The Wimbledon runner-up is accused of common assault, which if convicted carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. The specifics of Kyrgios’ accusation have not been made public.
“It’s in the context of a domestic relationship,” Barrister Jason Moffett told the media.
Kyrgios’ lawyer, Michael Kukulies-Smith, asked the ACT Magistrates’ Court to adjourn the case so that forensic mental health reports could be arranged. Magistrate Glenn Theakston is said to have granted the adjournment request.
The case is set to be heard again in February, and Kyrgios’ lawyer is expected to file an application to have the charge dismissed under Section 334 of the locals’ Crimes Act,
The 27-year-old is currently competing in the Japan Open in Tokyo and did not make an appearance on the court. Defendants who have legal representation frequently fail to appear for administrative hearings, which is a very common occurrence.
The World No. 20 was scheduled to appear in court in July, but the date was pushed back to August, and then again for six weeks. When Theakston asked if Kyrgios would be present in court for the February hearing, Kukulies-Smith said his client really wanted to.
“My client’s preference is to attend in person,” Kukulies-Smith said.
Kyrgios, mental illness
Kukulies-Smith told the court that Kyrgios’s mental health history since 2015 justified the application, citing several public statements made by the athlete.
During his performance at the 2019 Australian Open in February, the winner of the 2022 Citi Open in Washington revealed on social media that he was battling depression and substance abuse, saying that he appeared to be happy but it was actually one of his darkest periods.
“I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, pushed away family and friends,” he posted on Instagram. “I felt as if I couldn’t talk or trust anyone. This was a result of not opening up and refusing to lean on my loved ones and simply just push myself little by little to be positive”.
Kyrgios also made additional references to his mental health issues during his Wimbledon final and U.S. Open performances. He said that they were really tough situations, both mentally and physically.
“I thought the US Open was a great chance – obviously that one really, really hurt because I definitely thought that I was the favourite after I beat Medvedev,” he said.
On social media, he not only frequently talks about his struggles, but he also openly expresses his anguish at being away from home, particularly his ailing mother.
Family over everything ❤️@NickKyrgios #OBN22 pic.twitter.com/HQySF2Vasc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 10, 2022
Japan Open
The Japan Open is being held for the first time since 2019, after being postponed the previous two years due to pandemic restrictions.
Kyrgios who won his first ATP 500 title in Tokyo in 2016, is seeded five in Tokyo and scheduled to play Taiwan player Tseng Chun-hsin in the first round of the 2022 Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships.
“There’s only so much I can control and I’m taking all the steps and dealing with that off the court,” said Kyrgios, who hasn’t competed since his quarterfinal loss at the US Open.
“I can only do what I can and I’m here in Tokyo and just trying to play some good tennis, continue that momentum and just try to do my job.
Casper Ruud, the world No. 2 is also participating in this event, aiming for his first hard-court title of the season as well as his first ATP 500 trophy. World No.8 Cameron Norrie, world No.11 Taylor Fritz and world No.19 Frances Tiafoe are also in the running for the title.