Nick Kyrgios has been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend Chiara Passari, and will face court in early August.
The 27-year old will appear at the Australia Capital Territory Magistrates’ Court on allegations of an offence that carries two years maximum jail sentence.
Last night, ACT Police released a statement detailing the allegations.
“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,” police said.
According to the statement, the allegations made by Passari relate to an incident in December last year, that was “in the context of a domestic relationship,” as described by Kyrgios’ barrister, Jason Moffett.
“The nature of the allegation is serious, and Mr Kyrgios takes the allegation very seriously,” Moffett told The Canberra Times.
“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.”
According to the newspaper, the court summons were related to an allegation that Kyrgios had “grabbed” Passari.
Kyrgios’ lawyers released a statement early this morning responding to the summons.
One legal representative, Pierre Johannessen, told reporters his client was committed to addressing “any and all allegations”.
“At the present time, the allegations are not considered as fact by the court, and Mr Kyrgios is not considered charged with an offence until the first appearance,” Johannessen said.
“Until the court formally accepts the prosecution will be proceeding with a charge, and that the charge before the court is to be applied to the person summoned to appear, it may be misleading to the public to describe the summons in any other manner than a formal direction to appear to face allegations, the precise nature of which is neither certain at this moment nor confirmed by either the Prosecution or Mr Kyrgios.”
“While Mr Kyrgios is committed to addressing any and all allegations once clear, taking the matter seriously does not warrant any misreading of the process Mr Kyrgios is required to follow.”
The All England Club, the Wimbledon tournament organisers, did not comment on the allegations on Tuesday, citing legal proceedings. They did however release a statement confirming Kyrgios’ quarterfinal match against Chilean Cristian Garen on Wednesday evening (AEST) will go ahead.
“We have been made aware of legal proceedings involving Nick Kyrgios in Australia, and as they are ongoing, we are not in a position to offer a comment,” the statement read. “We are in touch with Nick’s team and he remains scheduled to play his quarter-final match tomorrow.”
Last October, police were called to a quarantine hotel in Adelaide after Kyrgios and Passari had a “heated” argument.
According to a police spokesperson at the time, “An investigation was conducted, no offences were disclosed and both parties will now spend the remainder of their quarantine in separate rooms.”
Kyrgios was notified of his court summons over night, (Tuesday morning UK time) just a day ahead of his Wimbledon quarter-final match against Cristian Garen.
The Canberra-born tennis player avoided reporters and photographers, though has since posted a photo of himself with a young fan on social media, accompanied by the caption: “all my youngsters out there, believe in yourself”.
Kyrgios will attend court in ACT on August 2.