In America, sports icons are treated like royalty. But in England, actual royalty sometimes play sports.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, welcomed Emma Raducanu back home on Friday after the 18-year-old dominated the US Open.
As part of Raducanu’s celebratory return home, the two played a friendly doubles match at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
And Middleton can actually play. She’s the Patron of the Lawn Tennis Association and showed off some impressive serves on Friday morning.
“We were just speaking about the US Open and the win and what a great achievement it was for us but also for the country,” Raducanu told reporters afterward.

“She was very supportive and it was great to play tennis with her. She has a great game and actually a great forehand.”
Raducanu’s stunning run at Flushing Meadows made her the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Virginia Wade in 1977. Raducanu rolled through the field, not losing a single set over three qualifying and seven main draw victories.

Raducanu attended the prestigious Met Gala last week, wearing a Chanel monochrome set and dripping in diamonds from Tiffany’s. And the jewels were just a hint at what’s to come off-the-court for Raducanu; Tiffany & Co. named Raducanu its newest brand ambassador earlier this week.