By Tim Parsons-
A Wimbledon fan accused by Nick Kyrgios of having ‘about 700 drinks’ during this year’s Wimbledon final is taking legal action against the Australian for defamation.
Kyrgios had complained to the umpire about the behaviour of Anna Palus in his four-set defeat by Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.
Kyrgios implored umpire Renaud Lichtenstein to have the woman ‘who looks like she’s had about 700 drinks bro’ ejected from the court , but she later explained she had only had two drinks.
Nick Kyrgios had described her as being “drunk out of her mind” during the Wimbledon final is taking legal action against the Australian tennis player.
Kyrgios, who lost the final to Novak Djokovic in July, said the woman looked “like she has had about 700 drinks” as he complained to the umpire about her.
Anna Palus has now instructed solicitors to bring defamation proceedings against Kyrgios.
She accuses Kyrgios of a “reckless and entirely baseless allegation”.
“Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’ false allegation was broadcast to and read by millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress,” Palus said in a statement from solicitors Brett Wilson LLP.
In a statement released by her solicitors, Brett Wilson LLP, Palus said: ‘On Sunday July 10, 2022 I attended the final of the Wimbledon tennis Championships with my mother. It was an event we had been looking forward to for some time.
‘During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me.
‘Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’ false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.
‘I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name.
‘The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action. Any damages recovered will be donated to charity.
‘Given the extant claim, I am unable to comment further on the events of the day in question.
In a statement released by her solicitors, Brett Wilson LLP, Palus said: ‘On Sunday July 10, 2022 I attended the final of the Wimbledon tennis Championships with my mother. It was an event we had been looking forward to for some time.
‘During the course of the final, Nick Kyrgios made a reckless and entirely baseless allegation against me.
‘Not only did this cause considerable harm on the day, resulting in my temporary removal from the arena, but Mr Kyrgios’ false allegation was broadcast to, and read by, millions around the world, causing me and my family very substantial damage and distress.
‘I am not litigious, but after much consideration, I have concluded that that I have no alternative but to instruct my solicitors Brett Wilson LLP to bring defamation proceedings against Mr Kyrgios in order to clear my name.
‘The need to obtain vindication, and to prevent repetition of the allegation, are the only reasons for taking legal action. Any damages recovered will be donated to charity.
‘Given the extant claim, I am unable to comment further on the events of the day in question.
“The need to obtain vindication and to prevent repetition of the allegation are the only reasons for taking legal action. Any damages recovered will be donated to charity.
“I hope that Mr Kyrgios will reflect on the harm he has caused me and my family and offer a prompt resolution to this matter. However, if he is unwilling to do this, I am committed to obtaining vindication in the High Court.”
Kyrgios, the world number 26, reached his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and is preparing to play at the US Open, which starts in New York next week.