Kate Middleton and Emma Raducanu.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty
“I think the Duchess is such a great inspiration, just with how she handles everything and how she does so much good work for charities,“Raducanu, 19, tells PEOPLE. “She’s a real inspiration to the whole country.”
Kate and Raducanu paired up for a quick doubles game in September during an event for the Lawn Tennis Association, of which the royal is patron.
“It was a pretty surreal experience to be playing tennis with the Duchess,” Raducanu says, adding that Kate played “very well.”
“It was kind of crazy, but she was really down to earth and normal,” she adds. “So I found it a really cool experience.”
Kate Middleton.Chris Jackson/Getty Images for LTA
Both Kate and her husbandPrince Williamare big tennis fans and have attended Wimbledon over the years. And Kate is an avid player (she andPrince Williamhave a court at home at Anmer Hall).
After the teen’s semifinal win in September, Kate sent a “best of luck” message to the young player ahead of the US Open finals.
Raducanu went on to become the first British woman to win a major singles title in 53 years and the youngest British player to ever win a Grand Slam.
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Emma Raducanu.Elsa/Getty
The athlete, who is Evian’s newest global ambassador the brand announced Thursday, says that despite that drive and work ethic, she’s been working on being “patient” and “kind” to herself.
“A lot of the time I can get so caught up in the moment and caught up in a particular shot that, I’m very tough on myself,” she tells PEOPLE. “So to step back and look at how far I’ve come, I think that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned [this year], just to be patient.”
source: people.com
