Undoubtedly one of the best tennis players of all time, Swiss star Roger Federer may have just met his match with the Princess of Wales.
While Federer has 20 grand slam titles to his name, the Princess managed to get a shot past the star, which was met with his response, “I think it was on the line. Amazing!”
Kate also took the opportunity to grab some coaching advice from the former world No. 1.
“Any tips on my serve at the same time would be very helpful,” she asked.
However, Federer seemingly had no advice to offer the Princess, responding, “The serve looks good.”
The duo were playing a doubles match on No. 3 Court – where Federer won his first match on the way to earning his first Wimbledon title in 2003 – to acknowledge the hard work of ball boys and girls at the tournament.
A clip of their encounter surfaced on YouTube and tennis enthusiast Kate is heard saying, “It’s so good to see you, Roger,” before stepping out onto the court ahead of their match.
After she got her shot past the tennis legend, who retired from the sport in 2022, Kate gave a celebratory pat on the shoulder to her doubles partner Joel Eboewe, a coach with the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative, which offers free lessons to local children.
During their visit earlier in June, the pair accompanied the ball boys and girls in training for the 2023 tournament which commences Monday, 26 June.
Federer himself started out as a ball boy in Basel in 1993 at just age 12, but it seemed as though he may have forgotten a thing or two about what goes on beyond playing the game.
As tennis balls bounced around at his feet, Federer – with an estimated net worth of $820 million – asked, “Is that supposed to be me picking them up?”
Kate also appeared slightly confused, with the royal being told that she was not allowed to catch a ball until it had bounced off the back wall.
Every year, about 1,000 children aged 11 to 13 from schools near Wimbledon participate in training sessions, with a lucky quarter of them selected to take part in the tournament.
For those being tested, Kate had a message to share, “With all the discipline and everything you’ve learned, you’ll be able to take it into so many other parts of your life; things like confidence and that feeling of pride with being on any of the courts is such a big moment.”
Kate and Federer were due to participate in a charity tennis day in 2022, but the Princess pulled out after the Queen’s funeral.
Federer has become friends with the Royals and the Middletons, with the tennis legend even spotted at the wedding of Kate’s sister Pippa to James Matthews in 2017.
He has also visited Prince William and Princess Kate at their home in Anmer Hall in Norfolk and has given Prince George a private tennis lesson.
Wimbledon ball boys and girls manager Sarah Goldson said, “We’re proud of the young people who dedicate so much time and effort to their role which plays an integral part in delivering successful championships.”
As patron of the All England Club, Kate will present the trophies to the winners of Wimbledon 2023.
Image credit: Getty
This article first appeared on Over60.