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British tennis star Emma Raducanu recently had the opportunity to meet with Princess Kate and her daughter Princess Charlotte at the Wimbledon men's singles final on Sunday. For Raducanu, it was her third time meeting the Princess of Wales but her first time meeting Charlotte.
When speaking about the royals after the match, Raducanu said "It was very nice to see her Royal Highness again. I've met her twice before and it was really nice to meet Charlotte as well because I hadn't before." Kate is well known for her support of tennis and is often seen attending matches at Wimbledon where she has been a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016.
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It's clear that both Kate and her family truly respect and admire the sport of tennis. Not only did she and her sister Pippa play tennis themselves growing up, but she has passed on her love of the game to her children as well. Bringing her daughter Charlotte to the Wimbledon final shows how she is raising the next generation of royal tennis fans. Having members of the royal family regularly attend events like the Wimbledon final helps boost the profile of the sport both in the UK and globally.
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Their presence and support undoubtedly provides encouragement to the players competing. After his loss in this year's final, runner-up Novak Djokovic praised seeing the Princess of Wales at Wimbledon, saying "It is very nice to see her in good health. She seems to be in good health. It's wonderful to have that kind of support from the royal family."
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Speaking after his straight sets defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon men's singles final, Novak Djokovic took the time to give an update on the health of Princess Kate, who he spoke with briefly after the match. Djokovic suffered a disappointing 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss and once again fell short in his bid to win a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.
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Despite the loss, Djokovic said it was "of course a privilege to be in her presence again." He went on to say that he told Kate "it is very nice to see her in good health. She seems to be in good health." As the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Kate usually presents the winners' trophies on finals day. She awarded Alcaraz his second consecutive Wimbledon title after his straight sets victory over Djokovic.
Djokovic's comments provide a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into an exchange with a senior member of the royal family. As one of the world's top tennis players, he has had multiple interactions with Kate over the years in her role at Wimbledon. But it's not often athletes share personal details about their conversations with royals. Djokovic's appreciation for Kate and assessment that she appears in good health shows the respect athletes have for the royal patronage of the tournament.
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This year at Wimbledon, Princess Kate was joined in the royal box not only by her sister Pippa, but also her eight-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte. It marked a special family outing for the royals to enjoy the tournament final together. As Carlos Alcaraz received his trophy from Kate on Centre Court, he paused to bow his head respectfully to the Princess of Wales in a touching moment.
After presenting the trophies, Kate and her family received a standing ovation as they departed the royal box. She has become a fixture at Wimbledon over the past decade and her presence is always greeted enthusiastically by the crowds. In a message posted on her former Twitter account after the event, Kate expressed her joy at being able to return to Wimbledon this year. She wrote "Great to be back at Wimbledon, there's nothing quite like the Championships."
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It's clear from both players' and fans' reactions that Princess Kate and her support for tennis is hugely appreciated. Not only does she honor the tradition of the royal family's patronage of the tournament, but her passion for the sport inspires others as well. Bringing her daughter Charlotte along is an obvious effort to pass this enthusiasm for Wimbledon down to future generations of royals too. Both fans and players alike value Kate's commitment to this iconic British sporting institution.
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