Nick Kyrgios, quarterfinalist at Wimbledon, to face assault charge in Australia court

Wimbledon quarterfinalist Nick Kyrgios will appear in court next month to face a charge stemming from an alleged assault of a former girlfriend late last year, authorities said.

Jason Moffett, a lawyer representing Kyrgios, told Australia’s Canberra Times that he has been briefed on the matter and that Kyrgios is aware of the charge.

“The nature of the allegation is serious, and Mr. Kyrgios takes the allegation very seriously,” Moffett told the newspaper.

However, another lawyer representing the player said Tuesday the “precise nature of” the allegations “is neither certain at this moment nor confirmed by either the prosecution” or Kyrgios himself.

“While Mr. Kyrgios is committed to addressing any and all allegations once clear, taking the matter seriously does not warrant any misreading of the process Mr. Kyrgios is required to follow,” attorney Pierre Johannessen wrote in a statement emailed to the media. Johannessen wrote that “the allegations are not considered as fact” by the court, and Kyrgios is not “considered charged” with an offense until a first appearance in court.

Kyrgios, 27, faces an Aug. 2 court date, the Canberra Times reported.

Canberra police did not immediately respond to an after-hours request for comment emailed by The Associated Press.

“The ATP is aware of the Australian case involving Nick Kyrgios but as legal proceedings are ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” an ATP spokesperson said.

Kyrgios, 27, will play Wednesday against Chile’s Cristian Garin. It’s the third Grand Slam quarterfinal of the Australian’s career — he is 0-2 in the others — and first in 7 1/2 years.

Kyrgios’ run at the Grand Slam has not been without controversy. He earned fines of $10,000 for spitting in the direction of a heckling spectator at the end of his first-round match and $4,000 for an audible obscenity during his tempestuous win against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.