Martina Navratilova, the tennis legend and nine-time Wimbledon champion, experienced an unexpected setback during her time at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. While working as a commentator for the BBC, Navratilova was denied entry to The Ivy Cafe in Wimbledon Village because she was accompanied by her miniature dachshund, Lulu.

Navratilova shared the incident with her followers on X, posting a picture of herself outside the cafe with Lulu tucked in a bag. Her caption read, "Well- tried to have dinner at the Ivy at Wimbledon, but they won't allow Lulu into the restaurant- so plan B". The post quickly gained traction, amassing over a million views and sparking a debate among her followers.

Many fans applauded Navratilova for her down-to-earth reaction, noting that she didn't attempt to use her fame or status to bypass the cafe's policy. Some commenters sided with the restaurant, arguing that animals should not be allowed in establishments where food is served. Navratilova responded to one such comment, clarifying that Lulu would have remained on the floor during the meal, emphasizing that her dog is "extremely well-behaved".

Brad Gilbert, former coach of Coco Gauff, also weighed in on the situation, calling the cafe's decision "ridiculous" and quipping that "dogs are better behaved" than people.

This isn't the first time that even tennis royalty has faced the strict rules at Wimbledon. In 2022, Roger Federer, an eight-time Wimbledon champion, was briefly held up at the entrance because he didn't have his membership card on him.

Navratilova is known to be a devoted dog owner and often brings Lulu with her to work. Lulu even has her own ID, allowing her to accompany Navratilova to various events. While Navratilova didn't disclose what "plan B" entailed, she did mention in a comment that she could have sat outside, but chose not to because of the number of people walking by.

Martina Navratilova's career spanned four decades, during which she secured 59 Grand Slam titles, a record 9 Wimbledon singles championships, 167 singles titles, and 177 doubles titles. She's lauded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, known for her aggressive, athletic style of play. Navratilova's achievements include winning six consecutive Wimbledon singles titles (1982-1987) and a record eight WTA Tour Championships.