New queen of tennis meets the Duchess
EMMA Raducanu may be US Open women’s champion, but when it came to trading volleys with the Duchess of Cambridge, her tennis mantra was: “Don’t miss, don’t miss”.
Raducanu, 18, revealed her nerves after she played a practice session with Kate, a keen tennis fan and player, and Britain’s other Flushing Meadows title winners during a homecoming event for the sports stars.
Billed as a warm-up session it quickly became competitive, but the duchess – patron of the Lawn Tennis Association – held her own with the tennis champs.
Joe Salisbury, the US Open mixed doubles and men’s doubles champion, and wheelchair players Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid – who successfully defended their US Open doubles title – also joined them on court.
Afterwards during an online BBC show, Raducanu was asked if she had more nerves playing Kate or her US Open finals opponent Leylah Fernandez, and replied: “I was actually very nervous playing the duchess.
“I was like: ‘Don’t miss, don’t miss’.”
Before the group picked up their racquets the duchess praised the champions: “Amazing guys, honestly, congratulations to all of you it’s seriously impressive. It’s so nice to see all of you back here in your home countries to celebrate.”
Kate had arrived wearing her tennis gear – trainers, skirt and sports top – and carrying her own racquet for the knock-up hosted by the LTA Youth programme at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, south-west London.