Wimbledon king Federer reveals All England Club security drama
Roger Federer did not realise he needed a membership card to enter the Wimbledon grounds but an official was very aware of that fact.
Federer, who swept to Wimbledon men's singles glory a record eight times, revealed he was almost turned away on an impromptu trip to the All England Club last month.
Having retired from professional tennis in September, Federer has more time on his hands than usual and during a visit to London he decided to pay the famous venue a visit.
Singles champions at Wimbledon become honorary members of the club but it turns out the membership card they are given is rather important, particularly when security insist on seeing it.
Federer posted a picture of the Wimbledon trophy on social media on November 25, with the caption: "Nice to see you again".
It turns out it was quite an effort to get into the grounds before he took that snap, with Federer telling Daily Show host Trevor Noah this week how much of an ordeal it proved to be.
"I have not really been at Wimbledon when the tournament is not on, so I drive up to the gate, where usually guests come in, where you would arrive and then you go up," the 41-year-old said.
"I get out and tell my coach who was with me at the time, Severin, I tell him I'll quickly go out and speak to the security lady, I got this. I did not.
"So then I get out and I'm like, 'Yes, hello, I was just wondering how I can get in to Wimbledon? Where is the door? Where is the gate?'. She [says], 'Do you have a membership card?'. I'm like, 'Uh, we have one?'."
Doors usually open for Federer, a 20-time grand slam champion but this one looked like being closed to him, despite his many past successes on the famous grass courts.
He won at Wimbledon each year from 2003 to 2007, before adding titles in 2009, 2012 and 2017. Still, it helps to have a membership card to enter a members' club, as the security official made clear.
"I tell her normally when I'm here I'm playing and there's loads of people and I come in in a different way and it's the first time I'm here while the tournament's not on and I don't know where to get in so, 'I'm just asking you again, where can I get in?'," Federer said.
"She's like, 'Well at the side, but you have to be a member'. So I look at her one last time and I'm in a panic now."
This was where Federer reluctantly played the 'don't you know who I am?' card.
"I'm so sorry, I still can't believe I said that, I still feel bad about it, and I look at her and I was like, 'I have won this tournament eight times. Please believe me, I am a member and where do I get in?'," he said.
He moved along to seek a different way in, and this was where his luck turned.
"I get out of the car and a random person walks in the walkway and said, 'Oh Mr Federer, I can't believe you're here at Wimbledon! Can we take a selfie?'," Federer said.
"I'm like, 'Yes! Let's take a picture!'. And the security guards that are there are like, 'Oh my God, Mr Federer, what are you doing here? Do you have your membership card?'."
Federer did not. This time, however, his luck was in.
"I'm like, 'No I don't, but is it possible to get in?'," he said. "[And they said] 'Of course we'll open the door, let me organise it'."
Although he was unable to play due to injury, Federer made a fleeting appearance at Wimbledon in 2022 at a line-up of champions to mark 100 years of Centre Court.
