Nick Kyrgios will still bring Wimbledon controversy despite BBC axing and injury

Daily Mirror

6 hours ago

Nick Kyrgios will be absent from the courts at Wimbledon for the third straight year due to injury, but the 30-year-old Australian will still have a presence in SW19
Nick Kyrgios constantly made headlines at Wimbledon last year – and the controversial Australian may have a similar role in 2025.
Kyrgios' best memories at Wimbledon came in 2022, when he produced some brilliant tennis to reach the final, where he was beaten by Novak Djokovic. The 30-year-old will be absent from the courts at the All England Club for the third straight year when the tournament begins on Monday.
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But, in typical Kyrgios fashion, you can expect to hear from him anyway – despite him being dropped by the BBC. Kyrgios worked for the broadcaster in 2024, providing expert analysis and co-commentary, but his voice won't be heard after he didn't make the cut this time around.
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Nevertheless, he will still be working at Wimbledon this year, having landed a role elsewhere. Here Mirror Sport takes a look over Kyrgios' complicated relationship with the world-famous tournament in south-west London.
Injury hell
Kyrgios' career has been blighted by injuries in recent years, prompting him to increasingly turn to the media for work. He has struggled with foot, knee and wrist injuries since reaching the final of Wimbledon three years ago and was forced to withdraw this year with what he called a 'small setback'.
Despite all his injury woes, Kyrgios is confident he will return later this summer, in time to play in the United States. 'Yes, I think I'll definitely play them one or two more times,' he told the Guardian.
'But there's a lot of wear on these tyres. It's a tough sport.' He added: 'I'm definitely playing the US swing and I'll take it one day at a time.'
BBC axing
Kyrgios was one of the BBC 's star pundits at Wimbledon last year, with his forthright opinions and direct experience of many of the players adding an interesting, if sometimes controversial, flavour to their coverage.
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But while he was often valuable on-air, the BBC was forced to deal with a backlash. Women's charities such as Reclaim These Streets and Women's Aid were among those to criticise the broadcaster for hiring Kyrgios, who pleaded guilty, but was never convicted, of assaulting his former girlfriend Chiara Passari.
"We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only," the BBC said in a statement.
"He has provided similar services to other major sports broadcasters in recent months. The legal process he was involved in has concluded, is well documented, and he has spoken about it publicly."
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Ultimately that pressure seems to have worked, with the corporation not re-hiring the Australian this time around. 'It's unfortunate but it's probably their loss more than mine,' Kyrgios told the Guardian, stating that he 'knows I'm a great commentator'.
'I understand they've got Chris Eubanks, but he hasn't beaten the greatest of all time multiple times. When someone's beaten Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic and has incredible insights, it's very strange you wouldn't want that person adding knowledge to tennis fans.' He added: 'I'm sure our paths will cross again. I only ever want to add humour, some knowledge and some great atmosphere.'
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Controversies
The BBC backlash is far from Kyrgios' only controversy at Wimbledon over the years. Back in 2019, he turned heads by admitting he deliberately hit a ball at Rafael Nadal. 'Why would I apologise?' he said afterwards. 'I won the point. I mean, the dude has got how many Slams, how much money in the bank? I think he can take a ball to the chest, bro.'
It later emerged that Kyrgios was struggling with his mental health at this period, with self-harm and suicidal thoughts a daily occurrence. But his on-court swagger, decidedly un-tennis-like style and frequent outbursts often landed him in hot water.
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Even his best year at Wimbledon, in 2022, when he surprisingly reached the final, contained a large slice of unwanted attention. Kyrgios complained to the umpire on Centre Court, asking for one spectator to be ejected because she 'looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro'.
That spectator, Anna Palus, had shouted while Kyrgios was serving, but didn't take too kindly to the accusation and launched legal action. Kyrgios ended up having to apologise and donate £20,000 to Great Ormond Street Hospital as recompense.
New Wimbledon gig
He may have been dropped by the BBC, but Kyrgios will still be at Wimbledon this year, having landed a new gig elsewhere. Kyrgios has been hired by talkSPORT to present Wimbledon Unfiltered, a new daily tennis show that will run throughout the two-week tournament.
It will be shown on talkSPORT's social media channels as well as his own YouTube channel Good Trouble, which has been gathering momentum after featuring Naomi Osaka, Gordon Ramsay, Mike Tyson and Novak Djokovic.
Kyrgios presented a live version of the show at the New Wimbledon Theatre earlier this week and, speaking to the Guardian, summed up the Good Trouble ethos like this: 'shaking things up, not always doing things the way we're taught.
'The one thing that stands out for me, being a tennis player in a Roger Federer-esque sport where you fit into a mould, is that I've gone against the grain my whole career. I've definitely shaken things up and done it my way.' He will be doing so once again at Wimbledon this year.