Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios pleads guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend, avoids conviction

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Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios pleaded guilty Friday and apologized for shoving former girlfriend Chiara Passari to the ground after a heated argument.

But the Wimbledon finalist's conviction was dismissed because the offense was at the low end of seriousness for a common assault, was not premeditated and he did not have a criminal record.

The assault happened when Kyrgios' tried to leave Passari during a dispute in January 2021 outside her apartment in Canberra.

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Australia's Nick Kyrgios, left, and Serbia's Novak Djokovic shake hands following an exhibition match at Rod Laver Arena ahead of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Kyrgios called an Uber, but Passari stood in the way of him closing the car door. The driver wouldn’t leave with the door open. At some point, Kyrgios pushed Passari’s shoulders, causing her to fall to the pavement and graze her knee, according facts of the case read in court.

"I respect today’s ruling and am grateful to the court for dismissing the charges without conviction," Kyrgios said. "I was not in a good place when this took place, and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. I know it wasn’t OK, and I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused.

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"Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I’ve found that getting help and working on myself has helped me to feel better and to be better," Kyrgios said in a statement issued through a management company.

Magistrate Beth