Kate Middleton had an extraordinary encounter with tennis legend Roger Federer at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament. The Duchess of Cambridge and the tennis maestro teamed up on the court, interacting with the tournament’s ball boys and girls, participating in training activities, and even playing an exhilarating game of doubles.
In a delightful moment during their match, Kate managed to score a point against the eight-time Wimbledon champion, astonishing both Federer and the spectators. The Swiss tennis icon, with a bright smile, acknowledged Kate’s impressive passing shot while standing at the net, describing it as “amazing” in a video.
As a Royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate frequently graces the Royal Box at Wimbledon, as reported by CNN, enjoying the matches from a privileged vantage point. Furthermore, she has recently taken on the honor of presenting trophies to the esteemed winners of the tournament.
Transitioning into the roles of ball boy and girl, Kate sought advice from Federer on improving her serve. With the excitement any tennis enthusiast would relish, she received positive feedback from the 20-time Grand Slam champion, who commented that her serve appeared “good”.
For Federer, who retired from professional tennis last year, this encounter brought back memories of his own beginnings in the sport, having served as a ball boy in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland.
Appreciating the training session with Kate, he expressed his admiration, saying, “This is proper practice, I’m really impressed,” as they rolled balls and darted across the court.
However, there was an amusing moment when Kate impressively caught a ball with one hand, only to be informed by Federer that ball girls and boys are not allowed to catch the ball at Wimbledon. A nearby ball girl clarified the rule, saying, “You’re meant to let it bounce and then get it. But good catch.”