"Please believe me": Roger Federer refused entry into Wimbledon
After being refused entry to Wimbledon, Roger Federer has been forced to boast about his tennis achievements to a security guard.
Speaking with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, the tennis champion shared the details of the incident that happened in November, where he was refused entry into the prestigious All England Lawn Tennis Club.
Despite winning the major tournament a whopping eight times throughout his glittering career, the 20-time Grand Slam winner says he was initially turned away at the entrance gate.
“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 recalls.
“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 travelling 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, however his plea fell on deaf ears.
“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 added.
After an unsuccessful attempt at gaining access to the club, Federer decided to try another gate on the opposite side, where he was instantly recognised by another guard.
He told the host, “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 organised it all.”
The tennis legend said after he finally gained access, he ended up having tea with the Wimbledon chairman for an hour.
“And I thought of going over to the other side and giving the other security guard a wave, but I didn’t do it,” he said.
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