Remember when Serena Williams said, “Join me as we celebrate the best of the best,” in the teaser for the ESPY Awards? Organizers took her words to heart, unveiling some truly ‘Royal’ names among the award recipients. The buzz around this year’s ESPYs is electric. The announcement of Prince Harry being honored has certainly added a regal touch to the event. But for tennis legend Serena Williams, the most exciting prospect might just be a reunion with her old friend Meghan Markle.

The Duke of Sussex is set to be honored with the Pat Tillman Award for Service in recognition of his creation of the Invictus Games. Since 2014, these games have provided wounded service members with the opportunity to compete in Olympic-style sporting events. Now, Harry’s honor signals the presence of Meghan Markle at the event. 

The Duchess of Sussex and the former tennis player have known each other since 2010. They first met at the Super Bowl and became close friends after reconnecting in 2014 at another Super Bowl. Markle has been open about her close relationship with Williams, about whom she wrote in her popular blog, The Tig, in August 2014.

Praising Serena Williams, the former actress highlighted her admiration for her matches and revealed that she watched them with ‘bated breath.’ “So began our friendship,” she marked. “She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down-to-earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto.” Serena has also stood by her friend through thick and thin in this decade-long friendship.

After both Meghan and Harry made headlines with their primetime interview with Oprah in March 2021, Williams took to her Instagram to extend her support. “Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life — and leads by example.” Now, as the star player moves towards a new life of being a host and is only the fourth female to do so at the ESPY Awards, her possible reunion with Markle will be something to cherish. Meanwhile, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is “nervous” ahead of discharging her new role. 

“Oh, my God…” Serena Williams reveals the challenges ahead of hosting ESPY Awards

Serena Williams is moving forward in her life outside the tennis courts. After hanging up her racquets in September 2022, the tennis star has been busy with several significant projects, and hosting the ESPY Awards is one of them. Talking to ABC about her life at the present, Williams dived into the challenges.

“It’s really busy and it’s really fun to be Serena right now,” she said of all of her ongoing projects. “I love it.” Continuing further, she delved into her preparations for the ESPY Awards. “I’ve been in rehearsals and it’s going OK,” she said. “I don’t know. Oh, my God, I’m definitely nervous!” Serena further remarked that she gets intimated by large crowds. “This is the year for ladies in sport, and I’m excited to see all the ladies kind of rule the ESPYS and just be super awesome,” she further said.

Now, with Meghan Markle expected to mark her presence at the event, it will be interesting to see if she can ease the pressure off Williams’s shoulder.