The assault charge against Nick Kyrgios, the 27-year-old Australian tennis player, was dismissed by the court on Friday, February 3. Present at the hearing, the Wimbledon finalist admitted to having assaulted his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari on January 10, 2021, pushing her to the ground after a heated argument. Chiara Passari filed a complaint ten months later after their separation, lawyers reported. In a statement read at the hearing, Nick Kyrgios’ ex-girlfriend says she suffered severe trauma as a result of the incident, significant weight loss, and being bedridden night and day, unable to sleep or knot new romantic relationships.
Progress in managing his mental health
The tennis player’s lawyers had previously indicated that the Wimbledon finalist would seek to have the charges dropped due to mental health issues, explaining that it was an isolated incident and not in line with his temperament. Psychologist Sam Borenstein told the court that Kyrgios suffered from severe and recurrent depression, including thoughts of self-harm, insomnia, restlessness and feelings of guilt. According to Sam Borenstein, the tennis star has resorted to alcohol in particular to cope with the situation, but is now making progress in managing his mental health. “As we speak, his mental health has improved significantly,” the psychologist said.
Kyrgios issued a statement in which he wrote that he was “not in a good time” at the time, and that he had “reacted to a difficult situation in a way that I deeply regret”. “I know it wasn’t OK and I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused,” he added.
A stupid gesture
Judge Beth Campbell eventually dismissed the case, saying Kyrgios had acted wrongly, but the offense was not planned or premeditated and was a “single stupid act” by a young man trying to get out of a tense situation. Kyrgios would have pushed his ex-girlfriend when the latter prevented him from leaving his apartment in Canberra. Nick Kyrgios arrived on crutches in the court of the Australian capital, victim of a knee injury which forced him to forfeit the Australian Open in January. He was accompanied by his partner Costen Hatzi, an interior designer, and his mother Norlaila.
The player, currently world No.20, did not speak to reporters as he headed to court. The 27-year-old Australian born in Canberra, known for his spectacular play and tantrums on the courts, has gone public with his battle with depression and the repercussions of his global stardom. In October 2022, while Kyrgios was taking part in the Japan tournament, the hearing was postponed to allow an assessment of his mental health. “There are only a few things I can control and I take all necessary measures to deal with them off the court,” the Australian said from Tokyo at the time.
Source: Europe1
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
