Roger Federer Who? 20-time Grand Slam winner is stopped by security and refused entry

Maybe Roger Federer isn't as famous as we thought. Turns out that even he must carry his tournament ID to get where he's try to go at the Australian Open. Rules are rules, after all. So what if Federer is a six-time champion at Melbourne Park ... the owner of 20 Grand Slam titles in all ... a man who's spent more weeks ranked No. 1 than any other ... and one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet? A video showing Federer stopped by a security guard in a hallway outside a locker room at the Grand Slam tournament made the rounds on Twitter on Saturday, drawing a mix of amazement and amusement.

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. Saturday was a practice day for Federer at Melbourne Park. He is scheduled to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fourth round on Sunday.

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However, Federer had a visitor in Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team skipper. Kohli, the Indian cricket team skipper, posted on his official Twitter handle photos on his meeting with Federer. Kohli was accompanied by his wife and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma. Kohli wrote on his handle, “What a day at the Australian open. An amazing way to finish the Australian summer. Forever grateful.” The smile on Kohli said it all, he had met a sportsman who is a true legend in every sense of the word. Although he met Federer, he watched Novak Djokovic in action as the Serb defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 to enter the fourth round.

Even Roger Federer has to follow the rules.

Security wouldn't let Federer pass because he didn't have his credential 😂 pic.twitter.com/Wi8VeQkcd1

— ESPN (@espn) January 19, 2019

Federer, who is the defending champion at the Australian Open, has already sealed a place in the last 16 of the competition with a win against American Taylor Fritz on Friday. Kohli on Friday led India to a 2-1 over Australia, their first against the hosts in a bilateral ODI series Down Under. India also became the first country to return from Australia without losing a single series, having won the Test series 2-1 and drawn the T20 Internationals 1-1.

-With Agency Inputs-

HIGHLIGHTS

• Roger Federer has won Australian Open six times
• Federer has also won 20 Grand Slam titles
• Federer will be gunning for record 21st title