Foot fault...race ace in Royal Box faux pas
FORMULA One ace Nico Rosberg faced being booted out of the Royal Box at Wimbledon yesterday after he turned up without socks.
Last season’s world champion nearly missed watching his hero Roger Federer after he arrived at the All England Club in a smart suit and tie but without the crucial item of footwear.
The 32-year-old, who stunned the motor racing world when he retired last year, narrowly avoided a dressing down from officials after he raced to the Wimbledon shop to buy a pair of socks.
The blunder was pointed out when the German was interviewed on Wimbledon’s official TV channel.
Rosberg, who runs an ice cream parlour in Ibiza, said: “I can’t believe that. I have to go shopping now. For me it’s a special day. I always watch the Grand Slam matches. I have always been a huge tennis fan. Especially today has to be the highlight with Roger playing again at the incredible level he is at.” Wimbledon has a strict dress code for its prestigious Centre Court seats.
Two years ago Rosberg’s bitter racing rival Lewis Hamilton was banned from watching the men’s singles final after he arrived in a colourful flowery shirt, slacks and a straw trilby hat.
Officials barred him entry to the seats when he refused to change.
A spokesman for Wimbledon said: “Visitors do need to wear socks in the Royal Box as part of the dress code.”
There was a surprise appearance on Centre Court by Novak Djokovic yesterday. Czech Tomas Berdych wore a pair of Adidas trainers featuring a picture of the three-times Wimbledon champion, who was forced to withdraw injured, as a tribute to him.