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TOKYO - Tennis star Nick Kyrgios will seek to have an assault charge against him dismissed on mental health grounds, Australian media reported yesterday.

Kyrgios’s lawyer appeared for him at a hearing in the Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory, where he faces a charge of common assault.

The 27-year-old Australian player, who was not required to appear for the largely administrative hearing, is in Tokyo to take part in the Japan Open.

Beat

Kyrgios beat Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-hsin 6-3, 6-1 in his opening match yesterday and then told reporters there was ‘only so much I can say about’ the court case.

“I’m here in Japan playing tennis, I’m not back home at the moment so what will be will be with that,” he said.

“The next meeting will be on February 3 so that’s all that I can really say about it now.”

His lawyer, Michael Kukulies-Smith, sought an adjournment to allow time for a mental health assessment to be carried out, according to media including public broadcaster ABC and the Sydney Morning Herald.

LONDON - John Obi Mikel has lifted the lid on his tug-of-war transfer from Manchester United to Chelsea and the false claims emanating from Norway that he had been kidnapped in the midst of it all. Mikel was at the heart of a ferocious dispute between two of English football’s giants in 2005 when they fought for his signature from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo.

After initially signing for United prior to the 2004-05 season ending, the Nigerian refused to report for training Lyn Oslo - instead flying to London to try and force a move to Chelsea.

Pressured

Mikel claimed at the time that he was pressured into signing for United - where he was even pictured in the shirt at a press conference - and Chelsea still believe they will land him.

Fast-forward to just over 12 months and the Nigerian got his wish after Chelsea, Lyn Olso and United agreed a deal that saw him join the Blues.

Before he officially joined the west London outfit though, there were incorrect reports he had been kidnapped during the height of the issues - with erroneous stories all over Norwegian TV.

And reflecting on that protracted saga, Mikel admits it wasn’t a great time for him.

“I acted as a young kid and as soon as Chelsea heard the news, they came and got me out of Norway,” he told BBC Sport Africa.