(Sydney) Tennis player Nick Kyrgios will seek to have an assault charge against him dismissed citing his mental health, Australian media reported on Tuesday.
Posted at 11:29 p.m.
Kyrgios’ lawyer represented the sportsman during a hearing in a court in Canberra, where the Australian player is accused of common assault.
The Wimbledon finalist, whose presence was not required during this essentially administrative hearing, was in Japan to take part in the Tokyo tournament.
His attorney Michael Kukulies-Smith requested a postponement to allow for an assessment of Nick Kyrgios’ mental health, according to multiple media outlets, including public broadcaster ABC and the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Kukulies-Smith said his client’s mental health issues are known and he will seek a dismissal at a later date, according to media reports.
The case concerning the 27-year-old tennis player is linked to an assault dating from December 2021.
The world No. 20, playing in his first tournament since losing the U.S. Open quarter-final last month, said he had been dealing with the matter “for months” but would took “day to day”.
“There are only a few things I can control and I’m taking all necessary measures to deal with them off the court,” Kyrgios told reporters in Tokyo.
“I’m here in Tokyo and I’m just trying to play good tennis, keep my momentum going and do my job,” said Kyrgios, one of the most polarizing figures in tennis.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 3.