Meghan Markle Showed Her Support for Serena Williams at the U.S. Open Because Game Recognizes Game

Ashley Hoffman
Meghan Markle Showed Her Support for Serena Williams at the U.S. Open Because Game Recognizes Game

There was plenty to see on the court as Serena Williams competed in the U.S. Open women’s singles final, but people online went wild for something off the court.

It was Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who showed up in the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium to support Williams.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives to watch Serena Williams against Bianca Andreescu during the Women's Singles Finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sept. 7, 2019. | TIMOTHY A. CLARY—AFP/Getty Images
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives to watch Serena Williams against Bianca Andreescu during the Women's Singles Finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sept. 7, 2019. | TIMOTHY A. CLARY—AFP/Getty Images

Captured by the cameras court-side during Williams’ final match against Canada’s Bianca Andreescu on Saturday in New York City, fans immediately started rooting for the display of friendship between the royal and the tennis monarch.

Reacting to all of the action from the sidelines, Meghan Markle was dressed in a chambray shirt, complimented with a grey jacket and was consistently clapping in view of the fans at home. Markle was seated in Williams’ box, next to William’s mother, Oracene Price.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watches Serena Williams play Bianca Andreescu of Canada during the Women's Singles Finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sept. 7, 2019. | TIMOTHY A. CLARY—AFP/Getty Images
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex watches Serena Williams play Bianca Andreescu of Canada during the Women's Singles Finals match at the 2019 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on Sept. 7, 2019. | TIMOTHY A. CLARY—AFP/Getty Images

Williams, who turns 38 this month, has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles in tennis, leaving her one behind Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record. While Williams’ Grand Slam wins include six U.S. Opens, those victories didn’t stop Markle from feeling the intensity of the stakes.

The 19-year-old Andreescu bested Caroline Wozniacki and Taylor Townsend in the tournament in order to advance to the finals against Williams. Williams lost the match to Andreescu in two hard-fought sets 6-3, 7-5.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex watches on during the ladies' Singles Second round match between Serena Williams of The United States and Kaja Juvan of Slovenia during Day four of The Championships - Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) | Laurence Griffiths&Getty Images

Meghan Markle recently popped up at Wimbledon to help urge Williams on as she has in previous years.

Today’s appearance marks the Duchess of Sussex’s first known solo trip to the states since she gave birth. The last recorded time Markle flew back to be on American soil was in late February for her baby shower in New York City, which Williams co-hosted.

The tennis star and her husband Alexis Ohanian also attended the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding in May of last year.

Meghan Markle's friend, US tennis player Serena Williams and her husband US entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian arrive for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / POOL / AFP | ODD ANDERSEN—AFP/Getty Images
Meghan Markle's friend, US tennis player Serena Williams and her husband US entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian arrive for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / POOL / AFP | ODD ANDERSEN—AFP/Getty Images

Williams touched on the evolution of her friendship with the Duchess of Sussex in an interview with Australia’s The Sunday Project last year. “We were actually just texting each other this morning. We have known each other for a long time, but we really kind of are relying on each other quite a lot recently,” she said of the bond.

While Prince Harry and Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor didn’t travel to the game, on Friday, Kensington Palace released details on the trip the royal pair are embarking on in just a matter of weeks to Africa. It will be their first royal tour with their son Archie, who was born in May.

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Today, we are excited to be able to announce details for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s upcoming tour to Africa! 🇿🇦🇧🇼🇦🇴🇲🇼 • In just two weeks, Their Royal Highnesses will embark on this official tour focusing on community, grassroots leadership, women’s and girls’ rights, mental health, HIV/AIDS and the environment. This programme has been many months in the making, and The Duke and Duchess are eager to focus their energies on the great work being done in Southern Africa. From meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu to joining ‘Waves for Change’ on Monwabisi Beach, the South Africa programme will be educational and inspiring. The Duke is especially proud to continue the legacy left by his mother with her work in Angola as he joins Halo Trust again in an effort to rid the world of landmines. HRH will also travel to Malawi where he will check in on the British Army’s partnership with African Parks and will be working on the ground supporting local communities. The Duke is particularly proud to be able to deliver an exciting new initiative, a Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy three-country partnership which he designed and consulted with Governments in Namibia, Botswana and Angola to protect forest and wildlife corridors around the Okavango Delta. The Duchess will be working with local organisations to promote women and girls’ health and education, entrepreneurship and leadership. With such a textured culture and history, Their Royal Highnesses are grateful for the opportunity to connect with those on the ground in Southern Africa and to be inspired by the work being done and learn how they can be better supported. As President and Vice President of The Queens Commonwealth Trust and The Duke’s role as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, The Duke and Duchess cannot wait to meet with young leaders mobilising change and adding to the beauty of these Commonwealth countries 🇿🇦🇧🇼🇦🇴🇲🇼 • “We look forward to seeing you soon!” • Photo ©️ PA images / Tim Graham - Getty Images / @Sentebale /@AfricanParksNetwork / @YouthAlert

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Sep 6, 2019 at 5:57am PDT