Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to assault of ex-girlfriend but gets off as case is dismissed

Tennis star Nick Kyrgios arrives at the ACT Magistrates Court in Canberra, Australia, February 3, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Nick Mulvenney

February 03 2023 07:43 AM

A common assault charge against Nick Kyrgios was dismissed in a Canberra court today, despite the tennis player earlier pleading guilty.

The charge related to a 2021 incident involving his former girlfriend Chiara Passari.

Magistrate Beth Campbell had dismissed the case due to the minor nature of the incident and that Kyrgios was at a low risk of re-offending, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"Just recovery, get back on court," said Kyrgios outside court when asked by a reporter about his immediate plans.

The world number 20, who underwent knee surgery after withdrawing from the Australian Open last month, said on social media he was "grateful" for the decision.

"I respect today's ruling and I'm grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction," he said in an Instagram post.

"I was not in a good place when this happened and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret."

The legal team for the Australian was granted an adjournment at a prior court hearing last October to allow time to prepare forensic mental health reports on their client.

A psychologist told the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court that Kyrgios had suffered severe depression, suicidal ideation and insomnia in the past but his mental health had improved.

On Friday, Kyrgios' psychologist, Sam Borenstein, said in a written report and testimony by phone the tennis star had suffered major depressive episodes in the past and had used alcohol and drugs to cope.

His mental health had led to impulsive and reckless behaviour. Mr Borenstein added that Kyrgios' recent knee injury had resulted in mild to moderate symptoms of depression, but his mental health was improving.

Lawyers for Kyrgios had previously sought to have the assault charge stemming from events two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds but the application was unsuccessful.

In February last year, Kyrgios opened up about his performance at the 2019 Australian Open, saying what appeared to be a positive time in his life had been “one of my darkest periods”.

“I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, pushed away family and friends,” he wrote 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 made further references to his mental health struggles during his runs to the final at Wimbledon and the quarter-finals at the US Open.

After ending Daniil Medvedev’s US Open title defence in September last year to reach the quarter-finals, Kyrgios expressed pride at lifting himself out of “some really tough situations, mentally” and “some really scary places” off the court.

Kyrgios had a career setback last month when he withdrew from the Australian Open because of an injured left knee that required arthroscopic surgery.

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Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to assault of ex-girlfriend but gets off as case is dismissed

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