Tennis: Nick Kyrgios settles legal case with Wimbledon fan he accused of being drunk
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Nick Kyrgios had accused the fan of being "drunk out of her mind" during his loss in the Wimbledon final.
PHOTO: AFP
LONDON – Nick Kyrgios has apologised to a fan he accused of being “drunk out of her mind” during his loss in the 2022 Wimbledon final and donated £20,000 (S$32,000) to a charity of her choice following a legal case.
The Australian tennis player, well known for his outbursts, complained to the umpire during his match against Novak Djokovic in July, saying that the fan had been talking to him during points.
He had said then: “It nearly cost me the game. Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind and speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable? Kick her out. I know exactly which one it is.”
Asked by the umpire to identify the fan, Kyrgios said: “The one with the dress, the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro!”
Anna Palus said that the 27-year-old player had defamed her by making “a reckless and entirely baseless allegation” and began legal action in August, adding that any damages she won would be donated to charity.
Kyrgios apologised in a statement released to British media by Knight Temple Law, which represented Palus.
“I told the umpire that a fan, who I now know to be Anna Palus, was distracting me during the match, believing that she was drunk,” he said in the statement. “I accept that belief was mistaken, and I apologise.
“To make amends, I have donated £20,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, a charity chosen by Ms Palus. I will not be commenting on this matter again.”
After years of underachieving, Kyrgios had a terrific run of form in the second half of 2022, winning the Washington title and reaching his first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon and the US Open quarter-finals. REUTERS
