Web Desk , June 26, 2023: A delightful meeting of tennis and British royalty took place at this year’s Wimbledon as Catherine, the Princess of Wales, joined Roger Federer for a special interaction. As a royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate is a familiar presence in the Royal Box during the tournament. However, this time she went beyond spectating and actively participated in the Wimbledon experience.
Kate engaged with the tournament’s ball boys and girls, even joining them in training exercises. To everyone’s surprise, she also played doubles match alongside the eight-time Wimbledon champion, Roger Federer. In a moment that delighted spectators, Kate managed to score a point against the tennis legend with an impressive passing shot while he was positioned at the net.
Amid laughter and applause, Federer acknowledged Kate’s achievement, stating, “I think it was on the line, amazing,” in a video shared by the tournament organizers. The interaction showcased the friendly rapport between the two, with Federer offering encouragement and compliments to Kate on her skills.
Having recently taken on the responsibility of presenting trophies to the tournament’s winners, Kate’s involvement in the tennis world has been increasing. During the meeting with Federer, she took the opportunity to seek advice on her serve, and the Swiss maestro, with his vast experience, remarked that her serve “looked good.”
For Federer, the Wimbledon encounter evoked nostalgia as he revisited his beginnings in the sport. As a ball boy in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland, he once performed the same tasks that Kate and the other ball boys and girls were engaging in. Expressing his admiration for their practice session, Federer expressed, “This is proper practice, I’m impressed,” as they rolled balls and sprinted across the court.
The friendly exchange took a lighthearted turn when Kate made an impressive one-handed catch. However, she was quickly informed by Federer and a fellow ball girl that catching the ball is not allowed at Wimbledon. They explained that the proper protocol is to let the ball bounce before retrieving it. The light-hearted moment added to the joyous atmosphere of the event, blending tennis prowess with royal charm.