A good organiser holds the same standards of security checks with all comers, and the good folks at the Australian Open take their jobs seriously.
Roger Federer – 20-time Grand Slam champion, and the winner of the last two men’s singles title at Melbourne Park – found out for himself on the sidelines of the year’s first major on Day 6 of the Australian Open 2019 on Saturday, 19 January.
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 didn't argue. He stood patiently, waiting until he was joined by members of his entourage. That's when he was allowed to proceed and go through the door.
The 37-year-old Swiss maestro was asked to present his accreditation to a security official as he sought entry to one of the courts at the iconic venue in Melbourne.
Saturday was only a practice day for the man dubbed ‘Greatest of All Time’ by many, as he prepares for a Round of 16 clash with Greek prodigy Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday, 20 January.
Needless to say, Twitterati was divided by Federer’s ‘break of play’ away from the courts:
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