Latest news with #Kyrgios'
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Nick Kyrgios will still bring Wimbledon controversy despite BBC axing and injury
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. 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. 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. 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." 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.' 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. 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.
West Australian
11-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Nick Kyrgios reportedly dropped from BBC, ESPN Wimbledon coverage over DV case backlash last year
Nick Kyrgios has been dropped from the BBC and ESPN's coverage of Wimbledon following backlash over his on-air role last year, which reignited criticism surrounding his 2021 domestic violence case. Kyrgios admitted to assaulting his former partner, Chiara Passari, during an argument in 2021. He pushed her to the ground as she blocked a doorway while he attempted to leave. In 2023, a Canberra court found him guilty of common assault, but no conviction was recorded, with the magistrate citing the low level of the offence and Kyrgios' mental health struggles at the time. The court heard that Kyrgios was suffering from serious depression, including suicidal thoughts, leading up to the assault. The injury-plagued star, once Australia's top tennis player, has not played at Wimbledon since losing the 2022 final to Novak Djokovic. Since then, he has battled a series of injuries to his knee, foot, and wrist. Kyrgios had hoped to return to the French Open in doubles with Jordan Thompson, but he withdrew earlier this month due to a knee injury. He has also confirmed he will not compete at Wimbledon this year, which begins at the end of June. According to The Telegraph in the UK, the BBC did not invite Kyrgios back to its 2025 commentary team, which includes John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova. Last year, Kyrgios had joined the BBC's Wimbledon coverage alongside Australian tennis legend Ash Barty. While Barty's return was widely celebrated, Kyrgios' involvement drew sharp criticism due to his past court case. It is unclear if ESPN will still use Kyrgios at next year's Australian Open. Caroline Nokes, Chair of the UK Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee, blasted the BBC over including Kyrgios last year. 'The BBC should hang its head in shame at this appointment. It's a disgrace and shows the utter contempt our national broadcaster has towards women,' she said. This latest setback for the 30-year-old comes after his reported split from long-time partner Costeen Hatzi. Earlier this month, Kyrgios confirmed that his latest injury would rule him out of the grass-court season: 'Just wanted to give everyone a quick update — I've hit a small setback in my recovery and unfortunately won't make it back for grass season this year,' he said. 'I know how much you've all been looking forward to seeing me out there, and I'm genuinely sorry to disappoint. This is just a bump in the road though, and I'm already working hard to get back stronger than ever. Thank you for all your continued support — it means everything to me. See you soon!' Kyrgios faces an uphill battle to revive his career, which has been derailed by injuries since late 2022. He has played only four singles matches in 2025, with his first tour win in over two years coming at the Miami Open in March. His withdrawal from Wimbledon means his first-round exit at the 2025 Australian Open remains his only Grand Slam appearance — out of a possible 11 — since the start of 2023. Jordan Thompson recently shared insight into Kyrgios' struggles: 'He was pretty down. He told me he doesn't know how much more of these injuries he can take, and you've just got to feel for him. As much as he says things in the media, I think he loves playing tennis and being on court, so it's disappointing that he can't be here.' With AAP
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nick Kyrgios lists lavish Sydney penthouse on the market for $1.8m - following shock split with long-time girlfriend Costeen Hatzi
Nick Kyrgios has put his lavish Sydney penthouse on the market just three years after purchasing it, following his shock split with long-time girlfriend Costeen Hatzi. The tennis champion, 30, listed the three-bedroom, two-bathroom Kensington apartment with a price guide of $1.8 million. He originally purchased the Anzac Parade home for $1.6 million in March 2022. The Canberra-born athlete reportedly used the penthouse as his full-time Sydney residence. His decision to sell comes amid personal changes, including his recent split with Hatzi, 26, a prominent figure in Sydney's social circles. The penthouse, situated atop the award-winning Capella building, boasts stunning district views extending to the Blue Mountains and city skyline. Its standout features include a large outdoor pool, private 24sqm rooftop terrace, and spacious interiors totalling approximately 174sqm. The property offers a variety of modern amenities, including full elevator access and double garage, and is equipped with ducted air-conditioning for year-round comfort. The penthouse also provides easy access to lush landscaped gardens with a heated outdoor pool, on-site minimart, sushi bar and beer garden. With property prices in Kensington experiencing a slight decline of 1.7% over the past year, the listing of Kyrgios' penthouse has drawn attention in Sydney's competitive real estate market. Earlier this month, Kyrgios' ex-girlfriend delivered a parting message to her tennis star ex after finally confirming the pair split. Rumours had been bubbling away over the past month the couple had broken up, with Kyrgios appearing to unfollow the social media star on Instagram. The tennis star sparked rumours they had secretly split after he removed her initials from his Instagram bio. Meanwhile, Hatzi shared multiple cryptic posts, uploading a TikTok in which she appeared to mouth the words: 'Who the f*** did I marry? So at this point in time, I have filed for divorce.' He originally purchased the Anzac Parade home for $1.6 million in March 2022 She then confirmed the pair ended things on good terms, wishing the best for her ex-partner. 'I'm loving my work and doing content every day,' she told The Herald Sun. 'We haven't spoken, relationships come to an end. I believe it's for the best. 'I hope he finds peace and happiness within himself. 'I definitely entered the relationship with pure intentions. I loved him, thought we had a great connection.' In recent weeks, Kyrgios appears to have been focusing on his own journey. He publishes pictures on social media of himself training, attending brand events and enjoying some downtime with friends. The pair began dating back in 2021. They appeared head over heels for each other following their first meeting - which took place after he messaged Hatzi on social media about a mirror she was selling. He went to her home to pick up the mirror but as she previously said: 'It was love at first sight.' The pair became official in January 2022 and moved in together, with Hatzi regularly seen following her beau around the world as he competed on the ATP Tour. After four years together, The Herald Sun revealed they split after a tournament in March, with Hatzi joking: 'Maybe I'll steer away from athletes.'
