by Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios has pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Australia.
A judge in the tennis star’s hometown of Canberra did not record a conviction against the 27-year-old, describing the common assault as an act of “stupidity” and “frustration” but saying it was not premeditated.
Justice Jane Campbell also dismissed the offense on the grounds that it was at the lower end of the severity of a common assault.
A psychologist told the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court that Kyrgios had suffered from severe depression, suicidal ideation and insomnia in the past, but his mental health had improved.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up had pushed his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari to the ground during an argument in January 2021, the court heard.
On Friday, Kyrgios’s psychologist, Sam Borenstein, said in a written report and in telephone testimony that the tennis star had suffered from severe depressive episodes in the past and had used alcohol and drugs to cope.
His mental health had led him to impulsive and reckless behavior. Borenstein added that the 27-year-old’s recent knee injury had caused mild to moderate symptoms of depression, but his mental health was improving.
Kyrgios’ lawyers had previously sought to have the assault charge stemming from the events of two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds, but the request was unsuccessful.
In February of last year, Kyrgios spoke about his performance at the 2019 Australian Open, saying that what seemed to be a positive time in his life had been “one of my darkest periods.”
“I was lonely, depressed, negative, abusing alcohol, drugs, alienating family and friends,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I felt like I couldn’t speak to or trust anyone. This was the result of not opening up and refusing to lean on my loved ones and just slowly pushing myself to be positive.”
Kyrgios made further references to his mental health issues during his run to the Wimbledon final and the US Open quarterfinals.
After ending Daniil Medvedev’s US Open title defense in September last year to reach the quarterfinals, Kyrgios expressed pride in coming out of “some really tough situations, mentally” and “some really scary places.” off the field.
Kyrgios had a career setback last month when he withdrew from the Australian Open with a left knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.
