This archive report was first published on 8 September 2019.
On Saturday, September 7, 2019, the US Open witnessed a historic moment as Serena Williams bid for her 24th Grand Slam singles title. The excitement was not limited to the court, as Meghan Markle, the wife of Britain's Prince Harry, was spotted in the player's box cheering on her friend.
Markle's presence at the US Open final added significance to the occasion, as Williams looked to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles. The Duchess of Sussex's appearance in New York stunned even the A-listers who regularly attend the tournament.
While Markle's visit was a surprise, she is not the first royal to attend the US Open. Princess Beatrice of York attended the men's semi-final match in 2017, and Queen Sofia of Spain attended the 2013 men's final to support Nadal.
Markle's friendship with Williams is well-documented, with the two having a long-standing relationship. Williams attended Markle's royal wedding in 2018 and co-hosted her baby shower in New York. The two also celebrated the release of Markle's cookbook on Twitter.
Markle made a last-minute decision to fly to New York after seeing Williams beat Elina Svitolina in her semi-final. Her presence at the US Open final was highly sought after, with demand for tickets reaching a record high. According to StubHub, demand for tickets was 33% higher than in 2017, with tickets costing hundreds of dollars.
