In the past few seasons, the management of the prestigious grass-court major event has often remained quite receptive to the players’ needs. However, some contentious and funny incidents have still happened in the past involving some of the most decorated players at the Wimbledon Championships. One such incident happened with the Swiss tennis legend, Roger Federer, who was once denied entry into the hallowed arena of the event.

It was a female security guard who stopped the former tennis ace as he was not carrying his identification. However, Federer isn’t the only notable figure in the tennis community who has been a victim of the strict management of the tournament. Even, the Czech-American tennis legend, Martina Navratilova is a part of the list as she got involved in a similar hilarious security incident. Here’s what transpired during her heydays when she was denied entry to the Centre Court.

Martina Navratilova opened up about a hilarious incident in London

In her book, “Being Myself,” the 18 singles Grand Slam champion previously revealed how she was stopped by the strict security of the Wimbledon Championships. The incident happened in 1983, when Martina Navratilova was already a three-time champion, and was gearing up for her fourth major title on the grass. During that campaign, the WTA legend was residing in rented a house a few blocks from the Centre Court.

However, the former tennis ace once got involved in a drama after she forgot her identification card. She said, “One day in 1983 I rode my bike through the club to the practice courts on the other side. I wasn’t carrying any identification, but I figured people knew me, and the previous day a guard had let me ride right through.”

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The Hall of Famer further stated, “This time, however, a seventy-five-year-old man was posted at the gate. He stopped me and said: ‘Sorry, Miss, can’t get in without a ticket.’ ‘But I’m a player. My name is ‘Sorry, Miss.’ ‘But I won this tournament last year.'”

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Under the tight security management, how was the American tennis legend permitted to access the venue?

Navratilova managed to enter the prestigious ground

In the book, she also revealed, “‘Sorry, Miss.’ Fortunately, somebody recognized me, and the guard very politely let me in. If that had happened in New York, they might not have been as polite, and I just might have been furious. But it was Wimbledon) Sorry, Miss.”

Later, the Tennis Hall of Famer ended up clinching the ladies’ singles tennis title at the 1983 Wimbledon Championships after outclassing the former tennis player, Andrea Jaeger in straight sets.

What do you think of the hilarious Wimbledon security incidents involving the tennis legends? Let us know in the comments section.

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