Nick Kyrgios Removed from BBC Wimbledon 2025 Coverage, ESPN Also Declines
Nick Kyrgios, the controversial Australian tennis star and 2022 Wimbledon finalist, has been dropped from the BBC’s Wimbledon 2025 punditry team, according to The Telegraph, following significant backlash over his 2024 appointment. The decision comes after Kyrgios, who admitted to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari in 2021 but avoided a criminal conviction, faced criticism from MPs and women’s campaigners, with Caroline Nokes calling the BBC’s initial hiring a “disgrace” that showed “utter contempt” toward women, per Express.co.uk.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2066837/Nick-Kyrgios-BBC-Wimbledon)[](https://x.com/dw_sports/status/1932419519697547442)
The BBC, which defended Kyrgios in 2024, stating he was hired for his tennis expertise and not to condone his past actions, has now excluded him from its lineup, per The Irish Sun. ESPN, where Kyrgios commentated during the 2024 and 2025 Australian Open and 2024 US Open, also overlooked him for Wimbledon 2025, despite his well-received stints, per Express.co.uk. His absence from both networks marks a shift, as he impressed with Eurosport at the 2024 Australian Open and BBC’s 2024 Wimbledon coverage alongside John McEnroe, per The Independent.[](https://www.thesun.ie/sport/15349434/nick-kyrgios-axed-bbc-wimbledon-coverage/)[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2066837/Nick-Kyrgios-BBC-Wimbledon)[](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon-commentators-presenters-nick-kyrgios-clare-balding-b2573784.html)
Kyrgios, sidelined from competitive play since March 2025 due to a recurring wrist injury, confirmed he would miss the grass season, including Queen’s Club and Wimbledon, posting on Instagram, “I’ve hit a small setback in my recovery… I’m genuinely sorry to disappoint,” per The Telegraph. He had hoped to return at Wimbledon but shifted focus to commentary after injuries, including a 2023 wrist reconstruction surgery, limited his career, per Wikipedia.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2066837/Nick-Kyrgios-BBC-Wimbledon)[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Kyrgios)
The backlash, fueled by his guilty plea and support for Andrew Tate, led to calls from Women’s Aid and Reclaim These Streets for his exclusion, per ABC News. Fans on X, like @dw_sports, noted the controversy, while @SunSport reported the axing. Kyrgios, who expressed regret for the 2021 incident, may explore coaching or further media roles, having teased coaching ambitions on the AO Show podcast, per Express.co.uk.
