Kate Middleton and Roger Federer watch Wimbledon on July 4.Photo:Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Roger Federer’s retired life includes courtside catchups withKate Middleton!
The 41-year-old tennis legend, whoretired from the sportin 2022, toldThe New York Timesit was a treat to watchWimbledonwith the Princess of Wales last month.
“It was so fun sitting next to Princess Catherine. I know her quite well,” Federer said. “She is an avid tennis fan, and she plays herself.”
The retired athlete also gave a glimpse into what it’s like inside theRoyal Boxat the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London during the elite tournament — don’t speak too loudly!
“Sometimes we have to be careful we don’t speak too much. You can talk, and then it’s super-quiet, and then you have to applaud,” he told theTimes.
Kate Middleton and Roger Federer watch Wimbledon on July 4.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Princess Kate, 41, is a frequent fixture at the Grand Slam championship and has attended the Grand Slam competition almost every year since marryingPrince Williamin 2011. In 2016,Queen Elizabethnamed her granddaughter-in-law — who is anavid tennis playerherself! — patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
The patronage comes with aspecial pinin club colors as well as trophy-distributing duties. Kate presented Federer with the runner-up trophy for the Men’s Singles Final in 2019, which would prove to be the last Wimbledon prize of his career.
Kate Middleton presents Roger Federer with the runner-up trophy for the men’s singles final at Wimbledon in July 2019.Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Before the tennis tournament this year, the twoteamed upfor a special promotional video to get the excitement going. In a four-minute clip released in late June, Kate and Federer played a few sets on Wimbledon’s iconic grass courts and gave abehind-the-scenes lookat all the hard work that goes into Wimbledon’sBall Boys and Girlsprogram.
After showing off her sporty skills with a racquet, Kate said she was impressed with the 250-strong team of youngsters who train for months for the big event.
“To see the training and the dedication and the amount of time that is put into the training and making sure this goes well on the day for the champions who are playing at Wimbledon… Yeah, it’s incredible to see it behind the scenes,” she said in the clip.
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The Princess of Wales later returned to watch Wimbledon towards the end of the tournament and sat courtside withPrince William,Prince George, 10, andPrincess Charlotte, 8, on July 16. While the little princess looked thrilled during herWimbledon debut, Kate told an official 5-year-oldPrince Louiswas bummed he wasn’t there too.
According to Ella Ottway, who runs youth programs at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the Princess of Wales said, “ ’Louis was very upset he wasn’t coming today,’ ” PA News reported.
“It’s Charlotte’s first time, George came last year. They’ve been eagerly watching,” Kate added of her two eldest children.
Royals at Wimbledon on July 16.Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty
source: people.com
