From hero to zero. Until a few years ago, Nick Kyrgios was one of the most eagerly awaited players at Wimbledon, reaching the final in 2022. Now, however, he is struggling to even get through the gates of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The Australian said that yesterday he was initially refused entry to Wimbledon because he did not have valid ID. To enter the All England Club, you must always show ID when collecting your pass to access the courts.

The protocol—  Kyrgios tried to explain his reasons and tried to get recognized, but to no avail. “I’m not usually one to ask, ‘Do you know who I am?’ when I try to get into events,” he told talkSPORT. “They asked me for photo ID, but I had just bought a new phone because mine was broken, so I didn’t have any photos… And she laughed before asking me, so she clearly knew who I was, but she was just following protocol.”

The search—  The Australian continued his story: “I asked, ‘Do you think you can let me in and give me a pass just this once?’, and she replied, ‘No.’ At that point, I said, ‘Really? Please,’ but they told me they couldn’t do it, that they had orders from above.”  In the end, the pass arrived, but the Australian’s adventure did not end there, as, like all visitors, he was stopped at the entrance to have his pockets and backpack checked. “I was searched,” he added. “They told me to put all my things down and I was searched.” This is treatment that a player who was a finalist and protagonist at the Championships might not have expected, but times change. Kyrgios has no official role at Wimbledon this year, as he is playing and is no longer a commentator: the BBC did not renew his contract, given his latest statements and outbursts, particularly on the Sinner case.