NICK KYRGIOS has been axed from the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon for 2025, according to reports.
It comes after his appointment to the broadcaster’s team for the event last year sparked uproar.
ReutersNick Kyrgios has been axed from the BBC’s coverage of Wimbledon[/caption]
PAKyrgios covered the grand slam as a pundit for the broadcaster last year[/caption]
GettyHis last match at Wimbledon came when he lost the 2022 final to Novak Djokovic[/caption]
PAKyrgios had been aiming to return this year but suffered an injury setback[/caption]
Roughly a year earlier, the Australian had admitted to assaulting an ex-girlfriend.
And according to The Telegraph, the outspoken star will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the Grand Slam tournament this year.
The 30-year-old had been hoping to play at the All England Club for the first time since losing the 2022 final to Novak Djokovic.
However, the tennis bad boy confirmed he would not be appearing because of a recurring injury.
Taking to Instagram, he said: “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.
“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!”
Kyrgios will also not fulfil a punditry role on American broadcaster ESPN.
He has worked with ESPN for the last two years during the Australian Open, joining their 2025 coverage after being eliminated in the first round.
His hiring by the BBC last year was met with criticism by senior MPs and women’s campaigners.
Caroline Nokes, the women and equalities committee chair, blasted that the broadcaster should “hang its head in shame” for the decision.
A BBC statement at the time said: “We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only.
“He has provided similar services to other major sports broadcasters in recent months.
“The legal process he was involved in has concluded, is well documented, and he has spoken about it publicly.”
Kyrgios admitted to assaulting an ex-girlfriend in February 2023.
However, a magistrate in Canberra, Australia, said the incident – which happened in 2021 – was “a single act of stupidity or frustration,” and spared him from getting a criminal record.
InstagramKyrgios admitted to assaulting ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari but was spared a criminal conviction by a magistrate in Australia[/caption]
Wimbledon ditching line judges a double fault for British tennis
By Joshua Jones
THE absence of line judges at Wimbledon will be a sad sight.
For as long as I can remember, the men and women decked out in their Ralph Lauren outfits have been part of the furniture at the All England Club.
Yes, they provided some mild entertainment on the court when one would call “fault” with plenty of extra, and unnecessary, gusto and volume that boomed around Centre Court, prompting a snigger from the fans.
Then there was the ongoing game of dodgeball they had to play when a big serve nailed a mammoth ace down the line and they had to take rapid evasive action or take a whack to the top of the head.
And challenges provided some audience participation, excitedly joining in the clapping countdown before the inevitable “oooh” when the graphic showed just how close the ball was to landing in or out.
Purely objectively, Wimbledon’s decision to replace line judges with Hawk-Eye Live makes total sense.
The accuracy and consistency of calls in real-time will speed things up, save time and should mark the end of arguments over the tight incorrect calls – well, until the technology malfunctions.
And Wimbledon’s hand was somewhat forced to ditch tradition for their standing in tennis.
The Australian Open and US Open already use electronic line calling and the ATP Tour is adopting Hawk-Eye Live across all of its tournaments from 2025.
Wimbledon’s refusal to comply would leave them lagging behind and exposed to the threat of needless controversy over human error.
But the impact – as is so often the case in these decisions – has ramifications further down, below the surface with very little impact on Wimbledon’s Championships or the players.
It is on the line judges themselves.
Approximately 300 officials – aged from 18 to 80 – covered more than 650 matches at Wimbledon.
A fraction travel internationally with the circuit but the vast majority of those are part-time line judges based in the UK, earning up to £180 per day to work at the prestigious tournament and their chance to play their part at Wimbledon.
For many, they will help out at British tournaments throughout the year, spurred on by the possibility of taking to the lawns of the All England Club.
But it is understood many of those officials would be reluctant to work at the lower-level tournaments without the carrot of Wimbledon dangling in the summer.
That in turn will put a major stumbling block in the pathway for British tennis umpires, who grind up through the ranks to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Like football with referees, tennis needs umpires and line judges.
So the inability to call “out” at Wimbledon could prove to be a major “fault” for the future of the UK’s tennis officials and therefore the state of the sport on these shores.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
