Roger Federer, who’s he? Security guard blocks champ from entering stadium
Maybe Roger Federer is not as famous as we thought.
Turns out that even he must carry his tournament ID to get where he is trying to go at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Rules are rules, after all.
So what if Federer is a six-time Australian Open champion, the owner of 20 major singles titles, a man who has spent more weeks ranked number one than any other and one of the most recognisable athletes on the planet?
A video showing Federer stopped by a security guard in a hallway outside a locker room at Melbourne Park is making the rounds on Twitter, drawing a mix of amazement and amusement.
"I don't care who you are, mate – you're not coming in"
Even GOATs need their accreditation, right @rogerfederer? 😂 pic.twitter.com/qk5mecaUVr
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 19, 2019
In the clip, the guard is seen indicating to Federer that he was missing his Australian Open accreditation pass.
Players, coaches, officials, members of the media and others are given lanyards with badges that have a name, a photo, tournament role and a bar code that can be scanned at security checkpoints.
Federer did not argue. He stood patiently, waiting until he was joined by members of his entourage. That was when he was allowed to proceed through the door.
Federer is not the only well-known player stopped by security, with Maria Sharapova also asked to show her credentials earlier in the tournament.
-ABC and wires