Kyrgios’ Wimbledon win overshadowed by assault allegations
<p dir="ltr">Nick Kyrgios’ spectacular win into his first ever grand slam semi final at Wimbledon was ambushed by reporters wanting to know about his ex-girlfriend’s assault allegations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Australian smashed Cristian Garin 6-4 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in two hours and 13 minutes on Wednesday - less than 24 hours after the news broke about the alleged assault. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Reporters however did not care so much about Kyrgios’ extraordinary win, who is the first Australian man into the semis at Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead they asked him about being charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I have a lot of thoughts and things I want to say, my side of it,” Kyrgios said. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“But I’ve been advised by my lawyers that I can’t say anything about it at this time.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">He explained that he was only human and the news affected him a bit, but he was focusing on the game instead. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“It didn’t really affect me at all, to be honest with you. Obviously seeing it ... I’m only human,” he continued. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Obviously I read about it and everybody else was asking questions. It was hard to focus on the mission at hand (which) was the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“I know deep down that’s what I was prepared for (and) it didn’t really affect my preparation at all. I knew I would stay true to myself and give my best performance today.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Kyrgios also said at one point he was “almost done with the sport” saying his mental health got the better of him. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“There was a point I was almost done with the sport,” he admitted.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I was self-harming, I had suicidal thoughts.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“To be a semi-finalist at Wimbledon now, if you had asked anyone if I could do that they would have said no. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Doesn't have the mental capacity, doesn't have the physical capacity, doesn't have the stamina. It's been a rocky road to here. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“At the start of the year I didn't know if I wanted to play a proper schedule. I'd lost the love, I'd lost the spark.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr">After making his comments, Kyrgios was stuck in a back-and-forth with a reporter about the issue, you’d think he was back on the court.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Sorry to bring this issue up again. What do you think about the timing of receiving the summons during Wimbledon? And will you be going to court as ordered?” the reporter asked.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Look, I understand you want me to give you the answers but I can’t speak any more on the issue,” Kyrgios responded. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Did you know before Wimbledon started? Or did you learn yesterday like the rest of us?” the reporter continued. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“I am ... do you want me to sound like a broken record?” Kyrgios asked.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’d like an answer, if you can,” the persistent reporter continued. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Kyrgios responded “I can’t” before a moderator interjected informing the reporter that Kyrgios has been advised that he can’t talk about the matter as its before the courts. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Further to that, another ex-girlfriend of Kyrgios, Ajla Tomljanovic earlier lost her quarter-final clash in three sets.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Instead of being asked about her match, Tomljanovic was asked about Kyrgios’ allegations which prompted her to call out reporters on Twitter.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Quite disappointing that after almost 2 hours of playing my quarterfinals that was the first question the journalist chose to ask me, and never proceeded to ask anything match related. Glad to see headlines mostly about that now. Do better,” she tweeted. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Kyrgios will appear at ACT Magistrates Court on August 2 in relation to one charge of common assault. He faces up to two years’ jail if found guilty. </p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Quite disappointing that after almost 2 hours of playing my quarterfinals that that was the first question the journalist chose to ask me, and never proceeded to ask anything match related. Glad to see headlines mostly about that now. Do better 😤 <a href="https://t.co/ygoUDe1XBb">https://t.co/ygoUDe1XBb</a></p>
<p>— Ajla Tomljanovic (@Ajlatom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ajlatom/status/1544732492887953408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">His barrister Jason Moffett, said that Kyrgios is taking the allegations “very seriously”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"It's in the context of a domestic relationship," he said. </p>
<p dir="ltr">"The nature of the allegation is serious, and Mr Kyrgios takes the allegation very seriously.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"Given the matter is before the court ... he doesn't have a comment at this stage, but in the fullness of time we'll issue a media release."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
