CNN
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Diehard Wimbledon fans know how difficult it can be to enter the grounds of the famous tennis tournament, with spectators often camping out overnight to claim pole position and join a seemingly endless queue just for the chance to watch the championships.
So spare a thought for Roger Federer, the eight-time tournament winner, whose plans to visit SW19 recently were nearly thwarted by an enthusiastic security guard.
The recently retired Swiss great – 20-time Grand Slam champion and arguably one of the most recognizable names and faces in tennis – found himself in London two weeks ago with a few hours to kill, he said. he told Trevor Noah on The Daily Show on Wednesday. .
Although he didn’t let Wimbledon know he was in town, Federer decided it might be nice to have some tea at the tennis club.
“I haven’t really been to Wimbledon when the tournament isn’t in progress, so I drive to the gate, where usually the guests come in, where you arrive and then you go up,” Federer explained.
“I go out and tell my coach who was with me at that time, Séverin [Luthi]I will quickly come out and talk to the security lady, I understand,” Federer said, before pausing and adding: “I didn’t.
“So I walk out and I’m like, ‘Yes, hello, I was just wondering how I can get into Wimbledon? Where is the door? Where is the door? “, Federer continued. “She [asked]: ‘Do you have a membership card?’ I’m like, ‘Uh, do we have one?’
“When you win Wimbledon, you automatically become a member,” explained Federer, whose achievements on the court stand at 103 singles titles, but added that he misplaced his membership card.
“I normally tell him when I’m there I’m playing and it’s full of people and I come in a different way and it’s the first time I’ve been here when the tournament is not in progress and I don’t don’t know where to go in, so I’m asking you again, where can I get in?” Federer said.
“She’s like, ‘Well next door, but you have to be a member.'”
Even after an embarrassed Federer explained who he was, the 41-year-old was still no closer to being allowed in.
“So I look at her one last time and I’m freaking out now,” Federer said. “I’m so sorry, I still can’t believe I said that, and I still feel bad about it, and I look at her and I’m like, ‘I’ve won this tournament eight times Please believe me I am a member, where can I enter?
Unfortunately, even that didn’t change the guard’s mind, so the defeated tennis great got back into the car and then pulled over.
Luckily, a fan spotted him on the catwalk and asked for a selfie, prompting other security guards to spot him and eventually let him into the park, where he was greeted by club chairman {Ian Hewitt ).
Of course, Wimbledon wants it known that despite the saga, the door is still open for Federer.
“You are welcome anytime,” the official Wimbledon account replied to the story on Twitter.
