SPORTS TALK

Hothead Nick Kyrgios wants assault charge dismissed on mental health grounds

Volatile Australian tennis player NICK KYRGIOS (27), who’s charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend, wants the charge dismissed on mental health grounds.

He’s facing a charge of common assault linked to an incident in January 2021, which his lawyer said involved a “domestic relationship”.

His lawyer, Michael KukuliesSmith, asked the court for a postponement to allow him time to prepare forensic mental health reports on his client, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The adjournment was granted and the case is expected to return to court in February. Nick, who’s competing at the Japan Open in Tokyo, didn’t appear in court.

In February, the tennis player wrote on social media that he had been battling depression and substance abuse at around the time of the 2019 Australian Open, but said he had since turned his life around.

He was originally due to appear in court in July but the case was adjourned to August and then pushed back another six weeks.