Kate’s joy for Andy: Animated Duchess of Cambridge cheers Murray on to victory as he overcomes injury to win his first round match in straight sets – after rain stopped play TWICE on Centre Court
Kate is attending for first time as patron of All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club
Will speak to The Championships ball boys and balls girls before watching Andy Murray
Admitted she was banned from his 2013 final due to her pregnancy
Scot takes on Russian Alexander Bublik, 20, at lunchtime
She’s an avid tennis fan who has landed the coveted role of patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and the plum job of handing out the trophies to this year’s champions.
And despite Andy Murray’s first round match being interrupted twice after the heaven’s opened, Kate refused to let the wet weather put a dampener on things as she put on a passionate display of support for the Scot.
The Duchess of Cambridge was paying her first visit to Wimbledon as royal patron, after taking on the role from the Queen, and had a front row seat in the Royal Box to see Andy, 30, take on Russian Alexander Bublik, 20, who represents Kazakhstan.
Despite fears hip problems could curtail the world number one’s campaign to defend his title the three-time Grand Slam winner saw off Russian Alexander Bublik, 20, who plays for Kazakstan
But rain lead to a pause in proceedings as the ground staff quickly moved the covers across. It appeared the wet weather had stopped minutes later, only for the rain to begin again moments after the match had restarted, causing another delay.
But it certainly the hold ups certainly didn’t diminish Kate’s excitement as she clapped and cheered and even appeared to pump the air with her fist at one point as she avidly followed the action on court.
Earlier this morning, she ended up in fits of giggles as she was introduced to hunky Austrian player Dominic Thiem, 23.
And it may well have crossed the mind of the world number eight that the Duchess bears more than a striking resemblance to his girlfriend Romana Exenberger, a former beauty queen with the same flowing brunette locks and porcelain skin.
The pair met at a sports awards in 2015 and Romana, also from Austria, combines her career as a PA with blogging about travel.
Kate asked Dominic and world number 10 Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland them how their practice sessions were going and whether they were nervous about their upcoming games.
When she found out both players’ first matches were on Tuesday, she said: ‘That’s why you’re so relaxed!’
When asked if she played tennis, the royal replied: ‘Yes, but not to any standard!’
The Duchess ensured she stood out from the crowd today in a polka dot dress by D&G, and ditched her customary nude court shoes in favour of on-trend black sandals.
Her usual clutch bag was also left at home with the royal opting for a white tote by Victoria Beckham instead.
Prior to the start of play, Kate met some of The Championships’ ball boys and ball girls, to hear more about their experiences of the tournament, and was introduced to tennis legend Martina Navratilova as well as former world number one player Kim Clijsters.
And she told two ball girls and a boy that their work ‘makes the game happen’.
‘It makes such a difference to the players, your professionalism,’ she said. ‘You look so smart.’
She also chatted to staff who play a pivotal role each year, including the tournament’s stewards and its medical and safety teams.
This is the Duchess’ first visit to The Championships as Patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, which hosts the Wimbledon championships.
She was handed the patronage by the Queen – after Her Majesty enjoyed 64 years in the role – as she sought to reduce her workload following her 90th birthday.
Her role means she’s been handed the plum job of presenting the trophies to the champions, taking over from the Queen’s cousin The Duke of Kent who has performed the role for 40 years.
After her meet-and-greet session, Kate took her seat in the royal box to watch Andy Murray take on Alexander Bublik of Russia, 20, ranked 134, who earned his place in the tournament after another player pulled out through injury.
Fans without Centre or Number One court tickets still have a chance to see British players in action, with Cameron Norrie, Heather Watson, Aljaz Bedene, Laura Robson and Naomi Broady all set to play.
They will be joined on day one by the likes of Rafael Nadal, Stan Wawrinka and Venus Williams, who has been in the headlines after she was involved in a car crash last month which led to the death of a 78-year-old man.
The bookies’ favourite, Roger Federer, will play his first match on Tuesday.
Betting firm Coral have Federer winning Wimbledon at 2-1, with Murray lagging behind at 6-1.
They are also offering odds of 500-1 that Murray’s second baby will one day lift the trophy.
Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said he believed early showers forecast on Monday would not affect play on day one.
He said: ‘We start off in London fairly grey and there could be some spits and spots of rain first thing.
‘But I think by the time play gets under way that should be gone.’
He said there was a ‘low risk’ of play being interrupted, with warm temperatures of up to 24C (75F) expected.
Recently, the avid tennis fan revealed she begged her doctor to let her attend Wimbledon to watch Murray in the final when she was pregnant back in 2013 – but he told her ‘definitely not’.
The Duchess, who gave birth to Prince George on July 22 – just two weeks’ after Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic, also revealed that she wrote to the Wimbledon champion to apologise for her absence.
‘I was very heavily pregnant. I wrote to him [Murray] afterwards saying sorry for not being there.’
Kate who was eight months pregnant with Prince George at the time, shared the story with presenter Sue Barker in a candid BBC documentary about tennis.
The royal who famously had a tennis court built at her Amner Hall home told Sue that the sport has been an integral part of her life since childhood.
‘I have watched Wimbledon, that was very much part of my growing up,’ she said.
‘Roger [Federer] is my mother’s heartthrob. I don’t think she will mind me saying that! I think he probably knows that too.’
Federer was one of the more surprising guests at Pippa Middleton’s wedding this summer.
The Duchess, who gave birth to Prince George on July 22 – just two weeks’ after Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic, also revealed that she wrote to the Wimbledon champion to apologise for her absence.
‘I was very heavily pregnant. I wrote to him [Murray] afterwards saying sorry for not being there.’
Kate who was eight months pregnant with Prince George at the time, shared the story with presenter Sue Barker in a candid BBC documentary about tennis.
The royal who famously had a tennis court built at her Amner Hall home told Sue that the sport has been an integral part of her life since childhood.
‘I have watched Wimbledon, that was very much part of my growing up,’ she said.
‘Roger [Federer] is my mother’s heartthrob. I don’t think she will mind me saying that! I think he probably knows that too.’
Federer was one of the more surprising guests at Pippa Middleton’s wedding this summer.
Source: DAILYMAIL MAILONLINE
Tags: Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, Middleton, Duchess, Kate Duchess, Duchess Kate, Wimbledon, Match, Playing
