Nick Kyrgios cheered at Wimbledon ahead of quarter-final clash following allegation of assaulting ex-girlfriend

Nick Kyrgios was cheered as he made his way out for his Wimbledon quarter-final match after he was accused of allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend.

The Australian tennis player will face a common assault charge in his country next month following an incident involving his former partner Chiara Passari in Canberra in December 2021, police said.

Kyrgios, 27, had remained tight-lipped about the incident as he practised on Court 12 in Aorangi Park at the Wimbledon grounds on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the world number 40 was cheered and applauded as he made his way out to face Chile’s Cristian Garin on court number 1.

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Kyrgios will appear at the Australia Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates’ Court at 9.30am on 2 August, according to court listings.

A police statement said: “ACT Policing can confirm a 27-year-old Watson man is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates’ Court on August 2 in relation to one charge of common assault following an incident in December 2021.”

His barrister Jason Moffett told The Canberra Times in Australia the charge was “in the context of a domestic relationship”.

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He added: “The nature of the allegation is serious, and Mr Kyrgios takes the allegation very seriously.

“Given the matter is before the court … he doesn’t have a comment at this stage, but in the fullness of time we’ll issue a media release.”

In a statement released later on Tuesday, his lawyer Pierre Johannessen said: “At the present time, the allegations are not considered as fact by the court, and Mr Kyrgios is not considered charged with an offence until the first appearance."

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Johannessen added: “While Mr Kyrgios is committed to addressing any and all allegations once clear, taking the matter seriously does not warrant any misreading of the process Mr Kyrgios is required to follow.”

Kyrgios has received two fines for his conduct at Wimbledon.

The Australian received a $10,000 (£8,260) punishment after he admitted spitting in the direction of a spectator who had heckled him during the first-round tie against Paul Jubb, and a $4,000 (£3,300) fine for swearing during Saturday’s fiery clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

A third punishment could be on the horizon given Kyrgios, who has regularly clashed with line judges at this grand slam, broke the strict dress code at Wimbledon when he wore red Air Jordan trainers and a red cap for an on-court interview following his most recent victory.