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Topics: Sport
Jake Massey
Nick Kyrgios has settled a legal case with a Wimbledon fan he accused of being drunk.
The controversial Aussie tennis star made it to the final of the tournament this summer - his first ever Grand Slam final - and in the third set he became involved in a back and forth with the crowd, claiming he was being put off.
Having just received a code violation for swearing after a spectator called out before his second serve, the 27-year-old complained to umpire Renaud Lichtenstein that spectator Anna Palus looked like she'd had 'about 700 drinks', and pleaded for her to be ejected.
Palus was temporarily ejected, but later explained that Kyrgios was 698 drinks off with his estimation.
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She subsequently brought defamation proceedings against Kyrgios, claiming he'd made a 'reckless and entirely baseless allegation', and he has now settled the case, admitting he was mistaken.
In a statement released via Knight Temple Law - which represented Palus - Kyrgios apologised for his comments and said he had made a charitable donation to 'make amends'.
Kyrgios said: "On 10 July 2022, during the Wimbledon men's final, I told the umpire that a fan, who I now know to be Anna Palus, was distracting me during the match, believing that she was drunk.
"I accept that belief was mistaken, and I apologise.
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"To make amends, I have donated £20,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, a charity chosen by Ms Palus. I will not be commenting on this matter again."
The world number 22 had surprised fans by reaching the final of the tournament, which he ultimately lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
Venting his frustrations to the umpire, he said: "She's distracting me when I'm serving in a Wimbledon final. There's no other bigger occasion.
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"You didn't believe me, and then she did it again, and nearly cost me the game."
Asked to identify which spectator was putting him off, he said: "I know exactly who it is. She's the one in the dress... the one who looks like she's had about 700 drinks."
Earlier in the tournament, the Aussie and his opponent, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, were both fined for their conduct.
Kyrgios was fined £3,300 for an audible obscenity, while Tsitsipas was fined £8,250 for unsportsmanlike conduct, which included hitting a ball into the crowd.