Kate Middleton Always Wins Against Prince William in Her Favorite Sport: 'I'm Not Competitive...'
Before becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton had shared a close friendship, a bond that remains evident today. Besides their royal duties and future roles, the couple also shares a strong mutual interest in sports. Whether it is racing on a track or cycling, the two are known to be very competitive in any challenge they take on. However, Middleton remains undefeated in her favorite sport.
According to the Daily Mail, Australian tennis player Rod Laver once detailed William and Middleton’s face-off on a tennis court and said, "I’d met William and Kate a few times, and in the Royal Box you get a chance to chat with them a little bit.” The couple supposedly played against each other on the court at their country home, and it is the princess who emerged as an undefeated champion. Laver shared, “They play tennis against each other. William told me he couldn’t beat her.” According to People Magazine, this was not the first time Middleton was dubbed as ‘competitive’ as her brother-in-law, Mike Tindall, once told her, “I'm not going to say you're uber competitive,” during his The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast. To this, the princess replied, “I'm not competitive at all.” Tindall further argued, “I've seen her play beer pong!”
Middleton is a regular at Wimbledon each year, cheering from the stands with her close family members. She was appointed as the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016 by the late Queen Elizabeth. The princess is responsible for giving out trophies to the winners. Besides her assigned duty, the 43-year-old is also seen enjoying herself in the stands, often accompanied by her sister Pippa and daughter Princess Charlotte.
The future queen’s interest in the sport began at an early age. In a BBC One documentary on the sporting event, the mother-of-three revealed her first memories of watching the game and said, “I was really taken by [Andre] Agassi and [Pete] Sampras, [Goran] Ivanisevic and Steffi Graf.” Describing the sport as ‘inspiring,’ she added, “Every time Wimbledon is on, I am thinking, 'Yes, I could do the same' and get out the racket. Sadly, not the same results.”
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While she always dreamed of playing like a tennis star, the Princess of Wales once had the chance to compete with one. As reported by the New York Post, she faced off against Roger Federer for an advertising campaign for the Wimbledon Championships in 2023. Middleton showcased her tennis prowess and even scored a point against the 20-time Grand Slam winner, impressing not just Federer but the entire audience. William and Middleton’s three children have also inherited their parents’ fondness for sports. They often join the two to watch tournaments and undoubtedly have a great time. Besides tennis, they have shown a keen interest in football (soccer), much like their father.