Ahead of Wimbledon's commencement, a friendly game at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club turned out to be quite an eyebrow-raiser when Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, left tennis veteran Roger Federer pleasantly surprised with her adept racquet skills.
The duo's meeting was for a dual purpose - the upcoming Wimbledon Championships promotional campaign and the filming of a mini-documentary. Middleton, who is a patron of the All England Club, actively participated in the documentary, which highlights the vital roles ball boys and girls play during the tournament.
Wimbledon Championships' official Instagram gave fans a sneak peek into Federer and Kate's match, as well as their engagement with the young ball boys and girls. The shared snippets were instant hits, garnering over a million views since their weekend release.
The Princess of Wales vs Roger Federer @RoyalFamilyITNP @KensingtonRoyal#PrincessCatherine #catherinemiddleton #KateMiddleton #PrincessofWales #royalfashion #CatherinePrincessofWales #RoyalFamily #PrincessCatherineofWales @Wimbledon @rogerfederer #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/kvsFxPWU7K — HRH Catherine ️ (@CatherineGCVO) June 25, 2023
The documentary mainly delves into the behind-the-scenes responsibilities of a ball boy or girl, revealing that only about a third of up to a thousand annual applicants make it into the Wimbledon crew. Those selected then go through extensive training to ensure seamless execution of duties, crucial for smooth tournament progression.
A significant segment featured Kate, where she was taught the intricacies of feeding the ball to a player and the catch-bounce protocol specific to Wimbledon, aimed at injury prevention.
Federer, too, got in on the fun, jesting about his early days as a ball boy while hitting a few balls across the court. However, the highlight of the event was the friendly face-off between the future Queen of England and the Grand Slam champion.
Clad in a classic all-white Adidas x Stella McCartney attire, Middleton stepped onto the court ready for action, matching Federer's sporty whites. After exchanging cordial greetings, Federer invited her to kick off their friendly match.
Though it wasn't Middleton's first time on a tennis court, her back-and-forths with the celebrated tennis champion left spectators impressed, especially when she managed to sneak a point past Federer, hitting the ball straight to the line. Federer acknowledged her skill, exclaiming, "Amazing!"
However, tennis is only one feather in Middleton's cap. An avid athlete, the Princess of Wales also enjoys netball, hockey, rugby, and sailing. Demonstrating her prowess across fields, she has also been in the spotlight showcasing her musical abilities, most recently at Eurovision.
