Roger Federer might just be the greatest tennis player of all time, especially when it comes to Wimbledon, yet there was an occasion not so long ago when All England Club officials refused to let him in.
Federer, who retired from the game in 2022 after racking up an astonishing 20 Grand Slams, including eight Wimbledon titles, celebrates his 43rd birthday this Thursday. However, despite his illustrious standing in the game, there was a brief moment in 2022 when he couldn’t buy his way into SW19.
The Swiss legend opened up about the story last year as he was taking his seat in the Royal Box for an Andy Murray match. So, as a way to mark the icon’s big day, let’s dig into one of the more humorous moments from his storied career.
The comical incident involving a very unimpressed Wimbledon security guard was a far cry from Federer’s time rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kate Middleton and other well-known faces in the stands, and all began when he forgot his membership card.
The five-time US Open champion was stopped by club officials as he looked to make his way onto the grounds and was told in no uncertain terms that he could not enter.
Federer elaborated to The Daily Show in 2022: “I didn’t want to tell Wimbledon that I was going to be there because I didn’t know if I was going to have time to visit. [When my] doctor’s appointment was done, I saw that I had two hours to kill, so we went to try and have tea at Wimbledon.
“I’ve not been there before when the tournament is not on, so I drive up to the gate, I go and speak to the security lady and say, ‘Hello, I’m just wondering how I can get into Wimbledon’, and she asked about a membership card. When you win Wimbledon, you become a member automatically.”
The usually placid star revealed that he lost his composure as he was repeatedly denied entry for not having the membership card. He then eventually had to swallow his pride and tell the stern official that he had won the tournament on several occasions in a bid to get in.
Federer said: “I was like, ‘I’m just asking you again where can I get in,’ and she said, ‘The other side, but you have to be a member.’ I look at her one last time and I’m in a panic – I’m so sorry I couldn’t believe it, and I still can’t believe I said this because I still feel bad about it – I look at her and say, ‘I have won this tournament eight times. Please, believe me, I am a member.'”
Despite explaining his more than impressive CV, and clearly being a world-famous tennis star, the security guard continued to deny him entrance to the premises, forcing one of history’s most famous sporting icons to use another gate.
“I got back in the car. My coach is like, ‘Oh good, where do we get in?'” Federer said. “And I’m like, ‘Don’t talk. Let’s go up and around the gate’. So, then I go out and I go around on the other side.”
The odd tale did have a happy ending for Federer, though, after another security guard noticed who he was and granted him access. He later revealed how he came close to having a cheeky dig at the official who wouldn’t let him in – only to resist in classic restrained Federer fashion.
“I went around to a different gate, and one of the security guards asked me for a selfie. I was like, ‘Yes!’ Finally, they let me in, and I thought about giving a wave to the person who didn’t let me in, but I didn’t do it.”
Federer took to social media a year after the incident to make light of it by posting a photograph of himself on X. Posing at the All-England Club with two ID cards, the Grand Slam maestro captioned his picture: “I remembered it this time.”
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