Nick Kyrgios sued by women he said distracted him during Wimbledon finals
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
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Nick Kyrgios: What you need to know (NCD)
ByDebbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
A woman accused by Nick Kyrgios of distracting him because she was “out-of-her-mind drunk” during the Wimbledon men’s tennis finals in July says she is suing him for defamation.
Anna Palus, a Polish lawyer, said Kyrgios launched “a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me.”
Palus was temporarily removed from Centre Court during the men’s finals after Kyrgios complained to umpire Renaud Lichtenstein that she was distracting him.
“She’s distracting me when I’m serving in Wimbledon final. There’s no other bigger occasion,” Kyrgios said. “You didn’t believe me and then she’s did it again. It nearly cost me the game.”
He went on to say, “Why’s she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind … speaking to me in the middle of the game, what’s acceptable?”
As Kyrgios complained, Lichtenstein said he did not know who Kyrgios was referring to. Kyrgios responded, “I know exactly which one it is, it’s the one with the dress, the one who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks, bro.”
Palus said she and her mother were at the Wimbledon finals cheering on Kyrgios and that she had had two drinks while there.
“During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me,” Palus said.
“Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr. Kyrgios’s false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.
“I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name. The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action.”
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years Check out these memorable photos of Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios through the years. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2010: Nick Kyrgios of Australia plays a forehand in his first round junior doubles match with James Frawley of Australia against Kevin Krawietz and Dominik Schulz of Germany during day eight of the 2010 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2010, in Melbourne, Australia. (Lucas Dawson/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2011: Nick Kyrgios of Australia plays a backhand in his third round match against Mac Styslinger of the United States of America during day 10 of the 2011 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2011, in Melbourne, Australia. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2012: Andrew Harris (left) and Nick Kyrgios of Australia pose with their winners trophy after defeating Matteo Donati and Pietro Licciardi of Italy in the Boys Doubles Final on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2012, in London. (Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2013: Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates with the championship trophy after winning his junior boys' final match against Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia during the 2013 Australian Open Junior Championships at Melbourne Park on January 26, 2013, in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2014: Nick Kyrgios of Australia shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain after their Gentlemen's Singles fourth round match on day eight of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 1, 2014, in London. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2015: Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates a point in his Gentlemen's Singles Third Round match against Milos Raonic of Canada during day five of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 3, 2015, in London. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2016: Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates in his second round match against Pabio Cuevas of Uruguay during day three of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2016, in Melbourne, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2017: Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts against Joao Sousa of Portugal and Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany during their first round Men's Doubles match on Day Four of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2017, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2018: Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates winning his third-round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France on day five of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 19, 2018, in Melbourne, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2019: Nick Kyrgios of Australia and Andrey Rublev of Russia shake hands following their Men's Singles third round match on day six of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2019, in Queens borough of New York City. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2020: Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts during his Men's Singles third round match against Karen Khachanov of Russia on day six of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 25, 2020, in Melbourne, Australia. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2021: Nick Kyrgios of Australia celebrates after winning a point in his Men's Singles third round match against Dominic Thiem of Austria during day five of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 12, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Photos: Nick Kyrgios through the years 2022: Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts in his second round singles match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during day four of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 20, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
