Kate Middleton Plays Tennis With US Open Champion Emma Raducanu

It is well-known that the Duchess of Cambridge is a keen tennis fan and she is frequently seen in the royal box at Wimbledon in her role as Patron of the Lawn Tennis Association. However, just how skilled she is on the court also became apparent today as Kate joined US Open Champion Emma Raducanu in a game during a homecoming celebration for the tournament’s British champions.

Dressed in a navy blue tennis outfit with her hair in a ponytail, Kate looked ready for action as soon as she arrived at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, south west London at 11 a.m. today. In addition to chatting with 18-year-old Raducanu, she met with men’s wheelchair champions Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid as well as men’s doubles champion Joe Salisbury. They posed together for a photograph which Kensington Palace posted on twitter with the caption, “In the presence of champions...We are all so proud of you!”

Kate and Emma Raducanu played together in a doubles game, with the US Open champion describing the future Queen’s forehand as “incredible.”

Following Raducanu’s win on September 11, the Queen sent her a message in which she described the victory as “a remarkable achievement at such a young age, and is testament to your hard work and dedication.”

During her hour-long visit today, Kate also met teenagers from across the UK who are part of the LTA Youth program, which aims to inspire the next generation of players aged 4-18. “Her Royal Highness is passionate about supporting grassroots tennis and encouraging young people from all backgrounds to become involved in the sport,” Kensington Palace said in a statement.

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