Kyrgios speaks out on assault claims

The tennis superstar has finally responded to his ex-girlfriend's accusations of assault.

The tennis superstar's ex-girlfriend has accused him of assault, and he's finally responded.

Controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios has broken his silence on assault accusations from his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari, saying it "didn't really affect" his performance in the Wimbledon quarter-final on Wednesday.

Kyrgios this week was summoned to face a Canberra court over an alleged common assault incident involving model Passari from December 2021.

“Obviously I have a lot of thoughts, a lot of things I want to say, kind of my side about it,” he told the media after his quarter-final win.

“Obviously I’ve been advised by my lawyers that I’m unable to say anything at this time.

“Look, I understand everyone wants to kind of ask about it and all that, but I can’t give you too much on that right now.”

Asked whether the reports affected his preparation and performance in his 6-4 6-3 7-6 win over Chile’s Cristian Garin, Kyrgios said it hadn’t - but it didn’t mean he had thought a lot about it.

“Didn’t really affect me at all, to be honest with you,” he said.

“Obviously seeing it -I’m only human. Obviously I read about it and obviously everyone else was asking questions.

“It was hard. It was hard to kind of just focus on kind of the mission at hand. It was quarterfinals of Wimbledon today. I know deep down that’s what I was prepared for.

“It didn’t really affect my preparation at all. I knew I stayed true to myself and give my best performance today.”

Kyrgios' ex, Ajla Tomljanovic, asked about accusations

Australia’s top ranked female player, Ajla Tomljanovic, was asked about the assault claims when she fronted the media after her quarter-final defeat to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina.

The tennis starlet dated Kyrgios for about two years before they broke-up in 2017.

“I’m not really aware of exactly what’s being said about whatever his past relationship and the allegations. I don’t know what it is,” she said.

“It’s been a while since our relationship ended. Obviously I’ve always kept my relationship very private. I would like to keep it like that.

“I’m definitely against domestic violence.

“I hope it gets resolved.

“But, yeah, I mean, I haven’t had that experience with him.”

Passari and Kyrgios' rocky relationship

Leaked text messages from last year revealed Kygrios and Passari’s turbulent relationship was punctuated with accusations of infidelity and lies.

The first signs of tension between the pair emerged early last year when Passari posted a cryptic message on her social media saying: “Cheaters always want you to be loyal while they’re being unfaithful.” 

By Valentine's Day 2021, Passari and Kygrios seemed to be sailing smoothly, despite having overcome their “struggles” together. 

“I have learnt a lot and am also learning a lot about myself since meeting you,” Passari wrote on her Instagram account. “There will always be struggles but as long as that magic and those unforgettable experiences are there it’s all worth it. Happy belated Valentine’s. I love you.”

Come October 2021, however, the pair were forcibly separated in hotel quarantine in Adelaide.

The argument kicked off when Passari posted a picture to her Instagram account of Kyrgios, apparently in bed with a woman and the caption: “That girl naked in bed with him isn’t me by the way”. 

The image was posted as part of a Q&A session Passari was holding on her Instagram account.

Next, Passari told her 50k followers that she and Kyrgios have been separated into different rooms. 

She claimed the police that separated the pair were "horrible to me" and "only had nicks (sic) best interest not mine". 

The fight apparently continued through angry text messages that Passari promptly posted on her account.

“Weren’t thinking about what pin (sic) you’d case me when you has another girl in your bed,” Passari texted to Kyrgios. 

“I didn’t know I did? I was asleep!” Kyrgios replied. 

“Surely you’re stupid,” Passari wrote back. 

“I’m not I passed out,” Kyrgios said.

Passari said Kyrgios “still denies (he cheated) and the excuses he comes up with are laughable.” 

“Even with photos and screenshots of his own number messaging this girl and multiple girls in general he still had the audacity to excuse his behaviour,” she wrote on Instagram.

One of the excuses he used to pardon his cheating was claiming he received a “massive hickey” from a “mate” not a girl, Passari claimed.

Asked by a follower whether Kyrgios was ever physically abusive to her, Passari replied: “He is almost the exact same in real life to how he is on court probably worse tbh.”

In December, months after her Instagram spiel, Passari accused Kyrgios of leaving her alone in New York City, taking with him her phone and wallet, amidst a row about him going to a strip club.

She again posted the text messages to her Instagram.

“You’re boasting to your boys how you go to the strip club 3 days after your girlfriend leaves that you slept with the stripped and continue to text her. It’s scary shit,” Passari wrote in a text to Kyrgios. 

“Haha here we go, 2 years ago. Don’t neck yourself tonight x” Kyrgios responded.

The tennis player would not answer journalist’s questions at Wimbledon, over whether he took the allegations of assault seriously or when he became aware of the summons.

Rather he turned to his brother and said, “I feel like I’m in The Last Dance”, referencing the documentary about basketball legend Michael Jordan.

The tennis superstar also posted a photo on Instagram of himself with a young fan. "This is why I play," he wrote. "To all my youngsters out there, believe in yourself." 

The comments under the post were overwhelmingly positive, with supporters rushing to the defence of the controversial star.

His brother, Christos Kyrgios, wrote "Love this one brother. Haters and liars will always try to bring us down - we keep it 100 and push forward!!"

Kyrgios' lawyer Jason Moffett told The Can­berra Times that "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."

The All England Club, which runs Wimbledon, confirmed Kyrgios will continue to play in the Championships.

Kyrgios' week at Wimbledon has been dominated by his on-court theatrics and behaviour towards umpires, lines officials, and ­spectators.

His battle against Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas was undoubtedly the most talked-about match of the tournament so far, and he received plenty of criticism for his on-court behaviour.

"Honestly, I don't care," Kyrgios told the media after the match. 

"I just smile. It's so funny. I joke around with my team about it so much. It's hilarious.

"I almost just wake up and read things, and I just laugh. And I never forget things people say, whether it was three, four years ago, things that just stick with me.

"I have a massive chip on my shoulder. I sit here now in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon again, and I just know there's so many people that are so upset."

The star was slapped with a $10,000 fine for spitting at a fan, and issued a warning for swearing on Saturday. He called for Tsitsipas to be defaulted after his opponent hit a ball near a crowd-member's head after losing the second set.

They both received fines on Sunday.

Kyrgios is joined at Wimbledon by his current girlfriend Costeen Hatzi, who he has been dating since the end of last year.

If you want to know more about his glamazon partner, you can read about her here.

Speaking after his fourth round win against Brandon Nakashima on Tuesday, he said Hatzi, an influencer and content creator, was "the best girlfriend in the world".

“I’ve got an incredible support crew,” Kyrgios said. “My physio is one of my best friends. My best friend is my agent. I’ve got the best girlfriend in the world. I’ve just got so many people around me, they just support me.