The Princess of Wales, Sir Andy Murray, and Anne Keothavong shared a conversation about the challenges of parenthood during a Wimbledon match, Keothavong has confirmed. The three sat together on Court One to watch British player Katie Swan face America's Madison Keys in the ladies' singles.
Casual Chat About Children and Tennis
Keothavong, a five-time British number one, described the interaction as lively and engaging. “She didn’t stop chatting, it was brilliant,” Keothavong told reporters on Tuesday. “Andy was there as well and we all have kids (who are of a) similar age, so a lot of the chat revolved around that, and tennis, and encouraging young kids to play and the challenges that we face as parents.”
The 42-year-old former tennis star added that the princess was genuinely interested in the sport and easy to talk to. “It was really fun. She was really interested in the tennis and really easy to talk to,” Keothavong said.
Appreciation for Athleticism
When asked about the depth of Kate's tennis knowledge, Keothavong noted the princess's appreciation for the players' power and athleticism. “I think she had a huge amount of appreciation for the power that the players were able to produce, and the athleticism of both Katie and Madison. If anything, it was more just appreciation for the players and what they were able to do out there,” she explained.
Keys, a former Australian Open champion and two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, ended British hopes in the women's singles by defeating Swan 6-1, 6-4.
Challenges for British Players
Keothavong described the tournament as “difficult” for British female players, citing tough draws and sometimes unrealistic expectations from fans. “I think most of them had tough draws and I think what British fans expect are probably sometimes unrealistic when you look at the bigger picture. But then there were also one or two losses where you would have expected a British player to come through that. I think it’s just been tough overall for everyone, but you win some, you lose some, don’t you?” she said.
Family Backgrounds
Keothavong has two children with her husband, lawyer Andrew Bretherton: a daughter, Ava, born in 2015, and a son, William, born in 2017. Sir Andy Murray and his wife Kim have four children: Sophia, 10; Edie, eight; Teddy, six; and Lola, five. The princess, a keen tennis fan and patron of the All England Club, attended last year's championships with her husband William and their children Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 11, when she presented the men's singles trophy to Jannik Sinner. The couple's youngest child, Louis, turned eight in April.
