Roger Federer reveals he was blocked from entering Wimbledon because jobsworth security guard did not recognise him
ROGER FEDERER had to blag his way into Wimbledon last month – because a nit-picking security guard did not recognise him.
The Swiss superstar – who retired from playing tennis after September’s Laver Cup – has won the Wimbledon men’s singles championship a record eight times.
But when he had two hours to kill in London after seeing a doctor having just flown in from a sponsors’ event in Tokyo, a jobsworth steward denied him entry as he did not have his SW19 members’ card.
Speaking on The Daily Show in the US, Federer, 41, said: “I didn’t tell Wimbledon in advance I would be coming. I didn’t know if I would have enough time to go by the Club before flying home.
“But I went there for tea as I had two hours to spare. I drove up to the gate where guests come in. I spoke to this security lady. I told my coach, ‘I’ve got this’.
“I said to her: ‘I’m wondering how I can get into Wimbledon? Where is the door or gate?’
“She said: ‘Do you have a membership card?’
“When you win Wimbledon you become a member automatically. I probably had one at home. I had no idea.
“She said I had to be a member. I told her I was and normally I’m here playing.
“I’m in a panic now, I still cannot believe I said this as I feel bad but I said: ‘I’ve won this tournament eight times – please believe me, I AM a member.’
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“She didn’t let me in. I went to a gate on the other side and a random person recognised me and asked for a selfie.
“This other security guard let me. The chairman was there, I had tea for an hour.
“I did think about going over to the other side and giving a wave that I was in, but I didn’t do it.
“When I said I had won Wimbledon for eight times, for a split second, I wasn’t sure if it was eight anymore. I never talk like this.
“But she was doing her job. Where is your name, picture, you don’t have it, sorry.”