Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios will appear before a Canberra court next month, facing a charge of alleged assault for an incident last year.
A statement from Australian Capital Territory Policing does not identify Kyrgios, but The Canberra Times quotes the lawyer of the former world No.13 as saying the charge is related to a "domestic relationship".
"ACT Policing can confirm a 27-year-old Watson man is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates court on the 2nd of August in relation to one charge of common assault following an incident in December 2021," the police said.
Australian media say the charge is related to a complaint made by Kyrgios' former partner, Chiara Passari.
"It's in the context of a domestic relationship," Kyrgios's barrister Jason Moffett told The Canberra Times.
"The nature of the allegation is serious and Mr Kyrgios takes the allegation very seriously. 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."
Moffett has not responded to requests for comment, while an email sent to Kyrgios' representative has not been answered.
Last month, Kyrgios, 27, became the first athlete to join Evolve, the new sports agency co-founded by four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. He will face Chile's Cristian Garin in the men's quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
Wimbledon organisers, the All England Club, say they have been made aware of Kyrgios' situation, but will not comment, as legal proceedings are ongoing.
"We are in touch with Nick's team and he remains scheduled to play his quarter-final match tomorrow," said an All England Club spokesperson.
The Australian has been fined a total of US$14,000 (NZ$28,500) during this year's grasscourt major for two offences - spitting towards a fan after his first-round win and then swearing in a fiery third-round clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
"The ATP is aware of the Australian case involving Nick Kyrgios, but as legal proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time," said the men's governing body.
Last October, Kyrgios and former model girlfriend Passari were moved to separate rooms in their Adelaide quarantine hotel, after an argument.
An undeniable talent, Kyrgios can beat any top player when in form and in the mood, but he has a long list of previous brushes with the tennis authorities.
Not since the days of John McEnroe's tantrums has a player polarised opinion as much as Kyrgios and there is always a buzz surrounding the maverick Australian, whether it be on court or at his media conferences.
Greece's world No.5 Tsitsipas labelled Kyrgios a "bully" with "an evil side" to his character, after losing their bad-tempered Wimbledon clash last week.
Reuters
