Nick Kyrgios has been forced to apologise after accusing a Wimbledon spectator of being “drunk out of her mind” during his final against Novak Djokovic. Ania Palus was kicked out of Centre Court temporarily after the world No 22 complained that she was distracting him, but the Aussie has now donated £20,000 to a charity of her choice in apology.
Kyrgios has released a statement apologising to a fan who attended his Wimbledon final in the summer after admitting he was “mistaken” in accusing her of being drunk. While facing Djokovic in a bid to win his maiden Grand Slam final, the 27-year-old complained to the umpire when a member of the crowd – now known to be Polish lawyer Palus – distracted him.
It was then reported in August that the 32-year-old spectator would sue him for defamation, and Kyrgios has now donated £20,000 Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity to resolve the lawsuit, also apologising to Palus. “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,” he said in a statement released by Knight Temple Law, per the Daily Mail.
“I accept that belief was mistaken, and I apologise. 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.”
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At the time, Kyrgios complained to chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein after he believed Palus was shouting out and distracting him while he was serving. “She’s distracting me when I’m serving in a Wimbledon final. There’s no other bigger occasion, you didn’t believe me and then she did it again. It nearly cost me the game,” he raged.
“Why is she still here? She’s drunk out of her mind and speaking to me in the middle of a game. What’s acceptable?” The French umpire told the seven-time title winner that “nothing” was acceptable, prompting him to keep demanding that she be removed.
“Okay, kick her out. I know exactly which one it is. The one in the dress, who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks bro,” he said, before Palus was removed for 15 minutes and allowed to return after having some water. The 32-year-old later clarified that she was actually cheering for the Aussie, and had only had two drinks.
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