‘I have won this tournament eight times, please believe me!’, says Roger Federer when denied entry at Wimbledon | Tennis News

NEW DELHI: Tennis legend Roger Federer shared a startling anecdote, during a chat show, when he was arrested at the Wimbledon door and was then refused entry to the club because he did not carry a membership card from the All England Club.
Eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer, the most successful male grass-court player of all time, was in the split while sharing the incident with Trevor Noah in an episode of the ‘The daily show‘.
“I was in Tokyo for my sponsor, Uniqlo. I came back to London to see a doctor for a second opinion on my knee as my knee hadn’t been doing very well lately. I didn’t want to tell Wimbledon that I was maybe going to be there and I didn’t know if I was going to have time to go through the (All England) Club because I was going home with the family.”

After meeting his doctor, Federer decided to visit Wimbledon as he had two hours before his flight home. However, he had never been to the venue when the tournament was not being played.
“So I drive to the door where the guests usually come in. I tell my coach who was with me at the time, I’ll quickly go talk to the security lady.” Federer asked the guard: “I was wondering how I could get into Wimbledon. Where is the door? Where is the door ? The security guard then asked Federer “Do you have a membership card?”
“When you win Wimbledon you automatically become a member. So I’m like, ‘No, I don’t have my membership card, but I’m a member and I’m just wondering where I can get in’, and she said: “Yeah, but you have to be a member.” I was like, “I’m asking you again where can I get in,” and she said, “On the other side, but you have to be a member.”
“So I look at her one last time and I’m so sorry, I couldn’t believe and I still can’t believe I said that and because I still feel bad about it. I would look at her and say “I have won this tournament eight times. Please believe me, I’m a member!” Federer revealed on the show.
Expanding further, Federer said he had to drive on the other side and got out of the car when a random person passed by and recognized him. ‘M. Federer, I can’t believe you’re here at Wimbledon. Can we take a selfie? Federer immediately agreed and the other security guards then allowed him in.
The 20 times Grand Slam champion recently retired from competitive tennis after competing in the Cup of the tankwhich was his last tournament.