Nick Kyrgios loses high-profile Wimbledon commentary role after BBC ‘disgrace'

7NEWS

a day ago

Nick Kyrgios appears set to miss Wimbledon entirely after it emerged he had been dropped by the BBC just days on from his latest injury setback.
The 30-year-old has not played at the All England Club since losing the 2022 final to Novak Djokovic, having suffered a combination of knee, foot and wrist injuries.
He had hoped to play doubles at the French Open but withdrew because of a knee injury and has since confirmed he would have to sit out the grass season.
'Just wanted to give everyone a quick update — l've hit a small setback in my recovery and unfortunately won't make it back for grass season this year,' Kyrgios wrote on Instagram.
'I know how much you've all been looking forward to seeing me out there, and I'm genuinely sorry to disappoint.
'This is just a bump in the road though, and I'm already working hard to get back stronger than ever.
'Thank you for all your continued support — it means everything to me. See you soon!'
When Kyrgios missed Wimbledon through injury last year he picked up a commentary gig with the BBC alongside Australian tennis legend Ash Barty.
But while Barty's return was greeted with much fanfare, it was a different story for Kyrgios as his 2021 court case involving former partner Chiara Passari returned to the spotlight.
He was accused of pushing her to the ground but the case was dismissed by a magistrate.
'The BBC should hang its head in shame at this appointment,' Women and Equalities Committee chair Caroline Nokes said last year.
'It's a disgrace and shows the utter contempt our national broadcaster has towards women.
'Not content with consistently underpaying their own female staff and forcing out women once they hit a certain age, they now bring a man who admitted assaulting a woman on board for Wimbledon.'
The BBC opted against taking action at the time but it has now been revealed Kyrgios will not return to the commentary team for 2025.
The Australian's previously solid plans to appear in the tournament likely played a role in the split, though last year he was announced by the BBC before he had ruled himself out of playing.
The BBC's decision not to re-sign Kyrgios comes just weeks after it was embroiled in controversy surrounding football legend Gary Lineker, who subsequently left his role as the public broadcaster's highest-paid presenter.
Kyrgios has also not received a call-up to work for ESPN on its US coverage of Wimbledon, according to the Telegraph.
He previously worked for the network at the Australian Open.
Kyrgios has long seen the commentary booth as a career opportunity, with injuries over the past three years accelerating his path.
He returned to the court in the Australian summer but still faces an uphill battle to resurrect his tennis career.
The former world No.13 has played only four singles matches this year, claiming his first tour victory in two-and-a-half years at the Miami Open in March.
His Wimbledon withdrawal means his first-round exit at this year's Australian Open will remain his only grand slam appearance — of a possible 11 — since the start of 2023.
Last week, would-be French Open doubles partner Jordan Thompson gave an insight into how much Kyrgios had struggled with his luckless injury run.
'He was pretty down. He told me he doesn't know how much more of these injuries he can take, and you've just got to feel for him,' Thompson said.
'Because as much as he says things in the media, I think he loves playing tennis and he loves being on court, so it's disappointing that he can't be here on the court.'