What would we do without our besties? In my case, I’m not sure I would’ve gotten through the first half of the Democratic debates on Wednesday night without text-heckling half of the candidates with my BFF from our respective living rooms, but my criteria for eternal friendship is likely a mite lower than that of world-famous celebrities. Case in point: according to Entertainment Tonight, one of our favorite high-profile pairs of sister-friends is expected to reunite at Wimbledon this year.
Though she’s technically on maternity leave through the summer, ET reports that new mom Meghan Markle is planning to take a little grown-up time to support close friend Serena Williams at Wimbledon. While no specific dates have been given for her attendance at the tournament, which runs from July 1 through July 14 (qualifying matches began on Monday), a then-newlywed Markle memorably joined sister-in-law and tournament patron Kate Middleton for the women’s final last year to rally for Williams, so this appearance would not be unprecedented.
In fact, Entertainment Tonight’s unnamed source was bold enough to speculate that the duchess would forego attending only if “the baby [Archie] keeps her home last minute.”
If so, we’re sure fellow mom Williams—who is rumored to have met Archie in May while en route to the French Open [h/t Glamour]—will understand. Besides, her focus will undoubtedly be on her game, as all eyes have been on the phenom’s performance since the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia in late 2017. Tennis champion turned commentator John McEnroe certainly couldn’t help weighing in on Williams’ prospects, as reported by Express UK:
“She is going to be 38 and she has had a baby. How does your body react to that is an obvious question,” he speculated. “As you get older, at least for me, I felt there was more pressure because you realized that your window is closing. ... You don’t know how much longer you are going to be doing it. And you end up feeling: I had better do it now.
“I don’t know what she is thinking,” he added. “But I am thinking she can’t be thinking I am going to be playing for much more than a year or two.”
While it is true that Williams has yet to win an event since winning her 23rd Grand Slam while pregnant, we’re far from counting her out just yet. As fellow champ Chris Evert weighed in [h/t Express]:
“She is still the best grass-court player out there. ... Maybe there is not as much intimidation factor. But it is hard for me to bet against Serena.”
What’s for sure is that Williams never bets against herself, and as a close friend, the Duchess of Sussex likely doesn’t, either. Should Markle prove unable to attend Wimbledon this year, she’ll no doubt be cheering her homegirl on from afar.