The center court of the All England Club is a star-studded affair on July 7. How often do you see the King of Wimbledon himself taking his place in the stands as he watches one of his biggest rivals in action? That’s exactly what’s on offer for the tennis lovers, as Roger Federer graced us with his presence while Novak Djokovic took on Alex de Minaur. It’s a rare but special occasion, obviously, seeing Federer back at the All England Club. But do you know even the 8-time Champion once found it difficult to get inside the Club?

No, we are not kidding. You would think people would just take out a parade if Roger Federer arrived at the place where he had his most glory and gave the world of tennis some of the most breathtaking and iconic moments. But back in 2022, a security guard would just plain deny him entry. All because he didn’t have a membership card. The Swiss was in London for a doctor’s appointment and had some time to kill, as he told the story to Daily Show host Trevor Noah. “So we thought we could have tea at Wimbledon.”

Not a regular visitor, the 20-time Grand Slam Champion approached the gate through which the guests entered the Club. And he was quite confident the legendary maestro would work his way in like he works his magic on grass. But a tough security lady who was playing by the rules would be his undoing. Well, all Wimbledon Champions are given a membership card, which allows them entry. And the security lady asked Federer for his.

Federer narrated the remaining story to the bemusement of everyone: “I don’t know about membership cards; they’re probably at home somewhere. and I’ve just been traveling, so I have no idea. So I’m like, ‘No, I don’t have my membership card. But I am a member. I’m just wondering where I can get in?’ And she says, ‘But you have to be a member.’” Oops. This left Federer with only one option. “I’m in a panic now, and I feel so bad about this but I look at her and say, ‘I’ve won this tournament eight times. Please believe me, I am a member. Where do I get in?’”

Unfortunately, Federer would not be able to convince the security lady. But this is not where the whole story ends. You gotta keep knocking on doors, or in this case, try another gate, which Federer and his coach did. And the Federer magic worked. One fan fatefully recognized him. So did a few other guards nearby. And the record Wimbledon winner was given the hearty welcome that he would always warrant.

Yes, protocol is the rule, but sometimes, for some people, exceptions have to be made. Wimbledon has shown time and again how seriously they take the rules and tradition. Experience the Championships as they unfold with EssentiallySports’ real-time updates.

Like Roger Federer, a Wimbledon finalist had to face similar issues in 2025

The 2025 Wimbledon has been a roller coaster. It started on June 30, and well, the way the seeded players have been faltering since Round 1, one would raise questions about the surface and other playing conditions. Many top players have crashed out even before we reached R16. That included Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Frances Tiafoe, Matteo Berrettini, etc.

Meanwhile, 2022 Finalist Nick Kyrgios has been missing in action as he is nursing an injury. But he has been at the All England Club to soak in the Championship atmosphere. And that got him in a bit of trouble, sort of. And it involved the same ID issues as Roger Federer. The Aussie revealed the whole incident to TalkSPORT, how he didn’t have a valid ID on him, and not even on his phone because he had recently replaced it.

“I had just got a new phone, because it was broken, I didn’t have any photos,” Kyrgios said. “And she laughed before she asked me, so she clearly knew who I was but was just following protocol.” He continued, “I said, ‘do you reckon you could get me in and give me my credentials just one time’ and she was like: ‘No.’ I went: ‘Seriously? Please’, but they said they can’t do that.”

Although the Wimbledon Finalist was eventually given a pass to enter, it was still not without hassle. “Then I got body searched,” the 30-year-old said. “They told me to put all of my stuff down and I got body searched.” Are Wimbledon being too excessive about their ID protocols? Well, you can never be too safe, we reckon. What do you think?