Roger Federer is an eight-time Wimbledon winner and a 20-time Grand Slam champion.
Tennis legend Roger Federer, during an appearance on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” recounted a recent experience when the former number 1 was in fact not allowed to enter the All England Lawn Tennis Club, also known as Wimbledon, briefly.
While speaking to Noah about the hilarious incident from two weeks ago, Federer was met with loud cheers from the audience.
The 41-year-old explained that he had a few hours to kill in London after a doctor’s appointment and he suggested that he and his team go have some tea at the Wimbledon. He also said that he had never visited the place when the tournament was not on before they proceeded for their destination.
“I drive up to the gate where usually guests would come in. So I get out, and I tell my coach who was with me, ‘I’ll quickly go out and speak to the security lady. I got this,'” he told Noah.
“So then I get out and I’m like, ‘Hello I was wondering how I could get into Wimbledon?’ She asked if I had a membership card. When you win Wimbledon, you become a member automatically. And honestly I don’t know about membership cards, they are probably at home somewhere and I’ve just been traveling so I had no idea.”
“I told her, ‘No I don’t have my membership card, but I am a member. I’m just wondering where I can get in,'” he told the guard in vain.
“I’m like, ‘No, I am a member and normally when I’m here, I’m playing. And now it’s the first time the tournament is not on and I’m here.'”
“I look at her in a panic one last time, and say, ‘I’m so sorry but I have won this tournament eight times, please, believe me, I am a member,'” he continued to peals of laughter from the host and the audience.
Dejected after being turned away, Federer and his team tried a different gate where he was instantly recognized much to his happiness.
“The security guard standing there says, ‘Oh my god, Mr. Federer what are you doing here? Do you have your membership card? I said I don’t, but the security guard let me in and organized it all.”
— Olly (@Olly_Tennis_) December 8, 2022
The 20-time Grand Slam winner then stopped by for tea with the Chairman and stayed for an hour. He also said that he thought of waving to the woman guard who didn’t let him in to tell her he has made it in but decided against it.
The story left the audience much amused. In the 22-minute episode, available on YouTube, the retired great talks about his several things including his friendship with rival Rafael Nadal.
Federer announced his retirement from tennis earlier this year marking the end of an era.
