Nick Kyrgios avoids criminal conviction after pleading guilty to assault

Nick Kyrgios has escaped a criminal conviction for assaulting his former girlfriend, but could yet face ATP sanction for admitting he pushed her to the ground.

Nick Kyrgios’ reputation has been damaged but his professional tennis career may yet survive after he avoided a criminal conviction despite pleading guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend outside of a Canberra apartment in 2021.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to assault in ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, admitting he pushed ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari out of an Uber on January 10, 2021, after she stood at the door preventing him from leaving during a heated argument.

Despite the guilty plea, Magistrate Beth Campbell said a combination of the publicity of the trial and the time that had elapsed meant Kyrgios’ case did not warrant a conviction and the charge was dropped.

READ NICK KYRGIOS’ FULL STATEMENT BELOW

Nick Kyrgios (R) leaves the magistrate's court in Canberra.

Not only did Kyrgios avoid jail time, he also escaped significant impact to his professional tennis career, pending any action from the ATP.

Already the most-fined player on tour and one of the most polarising figures in the sport, it remains to be seen whether Kyrgios will face any ramifications beyond the significant reputational damage he will suffer as a result of his guilty plea.

A recorded conviction could have kept him from entering the United States, leaving him unable to compete in a host of key ATP tennis events, including the US Open.

The world No.20 had attempted to have the assault charge thrown out on mental health grounds, however that was rejected once the court found he was not currently suffering from mental illness.

Nick Kyrgios, on crutches, leaves court.

Kyrgios appeared in court on crutches, as he continues rehab on the left knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open last month.

“I respect today’s ruling and I am grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction,” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram after the court hearing.

“I was not in a good place when this happened and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. I know it wasn’t OK and I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.

“Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I’ve found that getting help and working on myself has allowed me to feel better and better.

Nick Kyrgios’ tennis career and travel is unlikely to be affected.

“I now plan to focus on recovering from injury and moving forward in the best possible way.”

Kyrgios’ guilty plea comes less than a week after it was revealed the ATP would not punish German tennis player Alexander Zverev in relation to allegations he assaulted his former girlfriend, Olya Sharypova, in 2019.

Following a 15-month investigation into Sharypova’s allegations Zverev had repeatedly abused her, the ATP announced it would take no disciplinary action against the former world No.2, citing insufficient evidence.

However, the ATP could yet act against Kyrgios given his history of disruption on the tour and his guilty plea.

Kyrgios was issued a suspended 16-week ban and fined $US25,000 by the ATP for “aggravated behaviour” in 2019, and his total career fines exceed $US1 million.

News Corp has reached out to ATP and Tennis Australia for comment.

Nick Kyrgios’ statement.