Kate Middleton meets US Open winner Emma Raducanu, 18, at homecoming event in London
Sporty Kate Middleton is all smiles as she dons a tennis skirt and jacket to play alongside US Open winner Emma Raducanu, 18, at the National Tennis Centre homecoming event
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, a keen tennis fan, has met with US Open winner Emma Raducanu, 18, todayMother-of-three Kate played a match with the teen tennis sensation at the National Tennis Centre in LondonDuchess looked appropriately sporty in a blue tennis skirt and matching zip-up jacket for the occasion
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The Duchess of Cambridge appeared in great spirits today as she enjoyed a game of tennis with US Open winner Emma Raducanu, after gushing that the teenage tennis sensation’s recent victory was ‘seriously impressive’.
Kate, 39, who has returned to work following her annual summer break, looked appropriately sporty in a blue tennis skirt and matching zip-up £90 tracksuit jacket from French sportswear brand Poivre Blanc for the visit at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Appearing as equally ready for their match, Emma, who became the first British woman to win a grand slam title for 44 years when she won the US Open earlier this month, just weeks after collecting her A-level results, donned a blue T-shirt and white shorts for the outing.
To celebrate the success of the British US Open champions – which includes Emma, Joe Salisbury, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett – the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is inviting the nation to come together for a special ‘Homecoming’ event.
Before the thirty-minute show, which will be broadcast live today at 12:30pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online as well as the LTA’s social media channels, Emma, 18, chatted with keen tennis fan Kate, who is patron of the LTA, before playing a match together.
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Doubles with the Duchess! Kate Middleton has met with US Open winner Emma Raducanu today and played a match with the teenage tennis sensation
The Duchess of Cambridge talks to British US Open champions Emma Raducanu and Gordon Reid as they return to the LTA’s National Tennis Centre for The Homecoming and to celebrate their success
Kate (pictured left), 39, who has returned to work following her annual summer break, looked appropriately sporty in a blue tennis skirt and matching zip-up jacket for the visit at the National Tennis Centre in London
To celebrate the success of the British US Open champions – which includes Emma (pictured right, with the duchess), Joe Salisbury, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett – the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is inviting the nation to come together for a special ‘Homecoming’ event
Before the thirty-minute show, which will be broadcast live today at 12:30pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport online as well as the LTA’s social media channels, Emma (pictured left), 18, chatted with keen tennis fan Kate, who is patron of the LTA
The duchess joined the homecoming celebration, hosted by the LTA Youth programme, in which the four champions, as well as the royal, were on court alongside children taking part in the scheme.
The LTA youth initiative is an innovative programme aimed at inspiring the next generation of players aged 4-18, as well as helping more children enjoy the benefits of playing and staying in tennis, whatever their age, gender, ability, disability or background.
Alongside the tennis court appearances, the event included a live Q&A and a host of tennis activities – giving fans and players of all ages an opportunity to get to know their sporting heroes and hoping to inspire a new wave of players to start their tennis journey.
Emma defeated Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium earlier this month to become Great Britain’s first female grand slam winner in 44 years.
It was only Raducanu’s second appearance at a major and the new world number 23 has made headlines across the globe, appeared on various TV channels in the United States and also attended the Met Gala last Monday in a monochrome Chanel ensemble.
The duchess (pictured right) joined the homecoming celebration, hosted by the LTA Youth programme, in which four champions were on court alongside children taking part in the scheme
The Duchess of Cambridge meets British US Open Champions Emma Raducanu, Joe Salisbury (back row left) , Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett (front row left)
The LTA youth initiative is an innovative programme aimed at inspiring the next generation of players aged 4-18, as well as helping more children enjoy the benefits of playing and staying in tennis, whatever their age, gender, ability, disability or background. Pictured, the duchess at the event
After competing at Wimbledon this summer, Emma who is an LTA Youth Ambassador visited her old primary school in Bromley to inspire more young people to play the sport.
On visiting her primary school, Emma said: ‘Being back here does make me want to do more because seeing their inspired and excited faces when I walk in spurs me on.
‘I can’t let them down and I want to keep pushing on in my own career. Hopefully they can get into tennis as well if they watch me. Tennis is an unbelievable sport, it gives you so many opportunities and is so fun. It would be great for more kids to pick up a racket and try it. LTA Youth courses are a perfect way for everyone to get started.’
In 2018, Emma joined the LTA’s Pro Scholarship Programme to give her the support that she needed including coaching, access to science and medical services and wildcards to tournaments.
Emma has been competing in LTA competitions since aged seven starting out as a regular on the circuit of local and regional LTA competitions across the south of England.
The Duchess of Cambridge was beaming as she played a match with the US Open champions during the homecoming event
