Advertisement

Nick Kyrgios hit with legal action over comment in Wimbledon final

Nick Kyrgios, pictured here in action during the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic.
Nick Kyrgios in action during the Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

A woman who was briefly removed from the Wimbledon final after Nick Kyrgios claimed she was 'drunk out of her mind' is suing the Australian tennis star.

Anna Palus, a lawyer from Poland, was in attendance during Kyrgios' clash with Nick Kyrgios during the Wimbledon final when he took exception to her actions in the crowd.

UGLY: Victoria Azarenka at centre of controversy ahead of US Open

'SO SAD': Tennis fans left gutted over Alexander Zverev news

Kyrgios complained to the chair umpire that Palus had been talking to him during points.

Asked by the umpire to identify the fan, Kyrgios then said: "The one with the dress, the one who looks like she's had about 700 drinks, bro!"

Security personnel then asked Palus to escort them to an area on the concourse, before she was allowed to return to her seat.

In a statement released by her solicitors on Tuesday, Palus said Kyrgios had defamed her by making "a reckless and entirely baseless allegation."

"Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Kyrgios's false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress," she said.

Palus, who said she had attended the final with her mother, has instructed her solicitors, Brett Wilson LLP, to begin legal proceedings against Kyrgios and says any damages she wins will be donated to charity.

"The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action," she said.

"I hope that Kyrgios will reflect on the harm he has caused me and my family and offer a prompt resolution to this matter.

"However, if he is unwilling to do this, I am committed to obtaining vindication in the High Court."

Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios, pictured here with their trophies after the Wimbledon final.
Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios pose with their trophies after the Wimbledon final. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Nick Kyrgios' outburst during Wimbledon final

Kyrgios complained to the umpire at the time, saying Palus was "distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final.

“There’s not a bigger occasion. You didn’t believe me. And she did it again. It nearly cost me the game.

“Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind in the first row, speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable? Nothing is acceptable? So kick her out!"

Palus defended herself at the time, saying she'd only had two drinks.

“I understand what it is like to be an underdog so I wanted to give him support," she told the UK Telegraph.

“Maybe I took it too far so for that I am sorry but I only had good intentions.”

In his subsequent post-match press conference, Kyrgios was told by a reporter: “You might find this interesting but since she’s said that she had two drinks and she was actually rooting for you from the start. What do you make of that?”

Kyrgios hit back: “That doesn’t make it OK to start talking to Nick Kyrgios, who’s playing a final of Wimbledon, middle of the point. Why are you trying to make that OK?"

Kyrgios was appearing in his first grand slam final and took the first set against Djokovic, before eventually succumbing in four sets against the 21-time major champion.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.