"Mental health is never an excuse to do something unacceptable" - Tennis fans unhappy with Nick Kyrgios' statement after avoiding criminal charges
ATP
After escaping criminal charges despite pleading guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari, Nick Kyrgios broke his silence on the issue, stating that he was "seriously sorry" for the hurt he caused and that he genuinely regretted his actions.
However, the Aussie also made it clear that he was in a bad place mentally at the time, implying that it was one of the reasons for the way he acted. The 27-year-old went on to declare that he is continuously working on his mental health and that he is getting better and better with time.
Read also
"I was not in a good place when this happened and I reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeply regret. I know it wasn’t OK and I am sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused,” Kyrgios said. "Mental health is tough. Life can seem overwhelming. But I have found that getting help and working on myself has allowed me to feel better."
Tennis fans, however, were not happy with his comments, lamenting how he did not even apologize to Passari. One fan pointed out the same, drawing attention to his "narcisstic" apology and self-victimization.
"This disgusting narcissist domestic abuser so self-centred, doesn’t even apologise the women she abused. He really think he is the victim!"
Read also
Several other users made it clear that Kyrgios' invoking of the "mental health" excuse should not validate his assault.
"Mental health is never an excuse to do something unacceptable. i know that he isn't gonna change is attitude," said one user.
"Mental health is tough but it’s also not an excuse for assaulting someone," opined another.
"Mental health huh ? This excuse is not valid. There are a lot of people suffering from mental health," said another user.
"His 'apology' is also all about himself," one user speculated.
""i'm sorry” “it’s not my fault” “it won’t happen again” “look how supportive my NEW gf is” the manipulation is disgusting," said another user.
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026 - Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026








