Roger Federer: the day a guard did not let him enter Wimbledon – People – Culture

There was no one who dominated the Wimbledon grass with such elegance and effectiveness as Roger Federer. The Swiss tennis player, who shook the world of sports last September by announcing his retirement (action that he completed a few days later playing a doubles game with Rafael Nadal in the Laver Cup), performed at the All England for the first time in 1999 and there he He said goodbye, in 2021, with an unprecedented record of eight titles, with a total record of 105 wins and only 14 losses. But beyond such a link, a curious situation occurred: a security guard prevented him from entering the club.

(Also read: Roger Federer: unexpected gesture with tennis player who defeated him in his last match).

Federer, twenty-time Grand Slam singles champion and one of the most popular names and faces in the history of tennis, a few weeks ago he was in London for various commitments and, having a handful of free hours, he decided to visit Wimbledon to tour the club without an audience -because the tournament is being played between June and July- and have a tea. However, an unexpected problem arose.

“I had not been to Wimbledon when there is no tournament, so I drove to the door, where guests usually enter, where you arrive and then go up,” Federer, 41, began by recounting before the comedian and host Trevor Noah on ‘The Daily Show’on the American channel ‘Comedy Central’.

And he continued, amused: “I get out of the car and tell my coach who was with me at the time, Severin (Luthi), I’m going to quickly go out to talk to the security lady, I’ll take care of it.” Before pausing, Roger added, “I didn’t make it.”

“So I get out of the car and say, ‘Yeah, hi, I was wondering how I can get into Wimbledon. Where is the door? Where is the entrance?’ She (the guard) asked me: ‘Do you have a membership?’ And I’m like, ‘Do I have one?’ When you win Wimbledon, you automatically become a memberexplained Federer, who with a long winning record should have membership of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Roger went on to describe going back and forth with the person in charge of security: “I tell him that normally when I come here it’s to play and there are a lot of people. And now I come in a different way and it’s the first time I’ve been there while the tournament hasn’t been played and I don’t know where to enter, so I ask him again: ‘Where is the entrance?’”. To which the woman replied: “‘Next, but you have to be a partner'”.

(Of interest: Roger Federer: the end of a fantasy age).

Embarrassed, Federer tried to explain once more who he was. “I look at her one last time and I panic,” the 103-time trophy winner confessed. “I’m so sorry, I still can’t believe I said this, 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’m a member, where can I get in?’” But even that didn’t change the guard’s mind, so the former world number 1 returned defeated to the car and stopped later.

However, there was an event that finally -and to the relief of the great Roger- altered the unprecedented situation. A tennis fan who was touring the place recognized him, freaked out and yelled for a selfie, which made him other security guards saw Federer, recognized him, and let him into the British compound, where he was later greeted by club president Ian Hewitt.

Of course, beyond the difficulties that the Swiss had in his unannounced visit, the doors of Wimbledon are always open for him. The situation was nothing more than an amusing anecdote based on the rigidity of a security guard. “You are welcome at any time, @rogerfederer,” Wimbledon posted on his Twitter account, with a cute emoji.

On the Olympus of Swiss sport

Federer continues to receive accolades for his extraordinary career. The last distinction took place this weekend during the celebration of the Zurich Sports Awardswhere Roger received the Swiss Sports Honorary Award from the Swiss Sports Minister, Viola Amherd.

(Keep reading: Roger Federer and an unforgettable goodbye: the emotional hug with Mirka, his wife).

Thus, Federer officially goes to the ‘Olympus’ of Swiss sports, since the extenist is the sixth figure in Swiss sport to receive this distinction after the athlete Andreas Brügger; the cyclist Ferdi Kübler; the founder of the Sauber Formula 1 team Peter Sauber; the politician and former president of the Swiss Ski Federation Adolf Ogi; and the Swiss soccer team, which was proclaimed U17 world champion in 2009.

After his retirement, then, Switzerland now officially recognizes the figure of Federer, the man who put the European country on the sports map thanks to his impressive achievements and after writing golden pages in the history of tennis.

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The Nation / Argentina (GDA)