Andy Murray reveals Princess Kate’s favourite sport after Wimbledon reunion | Tennis | Sport
The Princess of Wales famously watched Andy Murray lift his second Wimbledon trophy a decade ago. But this year, they sat together in the No. 1 Court stands to watch another Brit, Katie Swan, take on 26th seed Madison Keys in the second round. Although Swan went on to lose, Catherine enjoyed her afternoon with Murray and Anne Keothavong, a former British plater and the current GB Billie Jean King Cup captain.
The princess is a big tennis fan and is the Patron of the All England Club. But after taking in the action together on Wimbledon’s second-biggest showcourt, former world No. 1 Murray revealed that she had also started playing another popular sport.
“Yes, it was a fun afternoon. She is definitely a tennis fan and she plays a bit herself, I think,” Murray told Hello Magazine. “I think she also plays padel. We watched the Katie Swan and Madison Keys match, so it was good to be watching a British player together.”
The three-time Grand Slam champion spent years competing on Centre Court in front of esteemed guests in the Royal Box, and admitted that the Royal Family’s presence at Wimbledon made the tournament extra special.
He added: “I think it means a lot to the players and to tennis fans to see the Royal family at Wimbledon. It’s part of the tradition of Wimbledon and the fans really like that, especially the overseas fans.”
The Princess of Wales presented the trophies to the gentlemen’s and ladies’ singles champions, Jannik Sinner and Linda Noskova, over the weekend. She was joined by Prince William and their children, George and Charlotte, to watch the men’s singles final between Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
World No. 1 Sinner also lifted the trophy in SW19 last year, when he admitted he didn’t know what to say to the princess. And the Italian didn’t find things any easier after defending his crown, though he enjoyed a brief chat with George and Charlotte.
“It was not easier. So much respect, so I never know where the line is,” Sinner said. “No, I think you can really see that they love the sport. This is exactly how we feel as players on court when we see them watching tennis. Staying there for four hours under the sun with the heat, it’s really nice.
“I asked the kids if they still play. They are very happy, yes, they do. We had a very, very small conversation. But I love it. That they also take time to talk with me, it’s something really, really nice.
“Having the whole Royal Box there, as well, the whole people staying for a match like this for four-ish hours, it’s amazing. That’s also the reason why we love to play tennis.”
