MEGHAN’S US OPEN APPEARANCE REVISITED AS BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT CLAIMS SHE ENTERED “PERFORMANCE MODE” DURING INTERACTION WITH SERENA WILLIAMS’ MOTHER

As speculation grows over whether Meghan Markle could make an appearance at Wimbledon this summer, renewed attention has been drawn to a memorable moment from the 2019 US Open involving the Duchess of Sussex and the mother of tennis superstar Serena Williams.

With Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams expected to remain major talking points during the tennis season, royal observers are increasingly curious about whether Meghan, one of Serena’s most well-known friends, might be spotted supporting her from the stands should she visit the United Kingdom in the coming weeks.

Reports have suggested that Prince Harry may travel to Britain with Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, making the possibility of the Duchess attending Wimbledon particularly intriguing. Such an appearance would undoubtedly attract significant media attention, given Meghan’s long-standing friendship with Serena and her history of supporting the athlete at major tournaments.

Meghan first crossed paths with Serena in 2010 before reconnecting several years later. Writing on her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan once described how the pair instantly connected and developed a friendship that quickly grew stronger over time.

For years, the relationship between the Duchess and the tennis champion was frequently portrayed as one of the closest celebrity friendships surrounding the Sussexes. Serena attended Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding in 2018 and was often publicly supportive of the Duchess during challenging periods of media scrutiny.

However, recent events have led some observers to question whether the friendship remains as close as it once appeared.

Earlier this year, Meghan sent Serena a promotional package connected to her lifestyle brand. While Serena acknowledged the gift publicly, some commentators felt her social media promotion appeared relatively understated compared with the enthusiastic endorsements often exchanged between close celebrity friends.

Additionally, online discussions intensified when Serena was photographed alongside socialite Emma Thynn around the same period. Some critics interpreted the timing as a subtle signal regarding the current state of her friendship with Meghan, though there has been no evidence to suggest any tension between the two women.

Against this backdrop, a body language expert has revisited footage from the 2019 US Open, arguing that the clip may reveal signs of an awkward dynamic involving Serena’s mother, Oracene Price.

The video, which has circulated widely on social media in recent years, shows Meghan and Oracene seated together while watching Serena compete in the women’s singles final against Bianca Andreescu. During a break in the match, cameras turned toward the spectators’ section, drawing cheers from the crowd when the two women appeared on the stadium’s giant screen.

According to body language analyst Judi James, the footage demonstrates a striking contrast between the personalities and communication styles of Meghan and Serena’s mother.

James suggested that while Meghan appeared highly expressive and conscious of the cameras, Oracene seemed entirely focused on the match unfolding before her.

The expert argued that the difference in behavior became especially noticeable once Meghan realized that the stadium cameras were capturing her reactions. At that point, James claimed, the Duchess appeared to shift into what she described as a “high-performance mode.”

According to her analysis, Meghan began displaying more animated facial expressions and gestures, perhaps reflecting her background as an actress and public figure accustomed to being observed.

James suggested that Meghan’s reactions appeared carefully expressive, almost as though she was communicating emotions to a wider audience rather than simply responding naturally to the match itself.

She noted that Meghan’s eyes seemed drawn toward the cameras or large stadium screens, indicating an awareness of how she was being viewed by spectators and television audiences.

In contrast, Oracene maintained a far more reserved demeanor. James described Serena’s mother as remaining deeply immersed in the match, seemingly unaffected by external distractions or the attention generated by the cameras.

Throughout the footage, Oracene appears calm, composed, and focused on her daughter’s performance. James interpreted this behavior as evidence that Serena’s mother was concentrating solely on the sporting event rather than participating in the public spectacle surrounding it.

One of the most discussed moments in the clip occurs when Meghan appears to attempt conversation with Oracene. According to James, there was little visible response from Serena’s mother, creating what some viewers perceived as an awkward interaction.

The analyst emphasized that there is no way to know exactly what was said between the two women. However, based solely on their nonverbal communication, she argued that Meghan’s effort to engage did not appear to produce a meaningful exchange.

As a result, James believes Meghan may have become aware of how the moment looked from an outside perspective.

The expert pointed to several gestures that she interpreted as signs of nervous energy or heightened self-awareness. Meghan was seen placing her hands near her face, spreading her fingers, rubbing her hands together, and making prayer-like gestures while watching the match.

James argued that these actions could have been intended to visually communicate support for Serena while also helping Meghan manage the tension of being in the spotlight.

She further suggested that Meghan’s facial expressions displayed a mixture of excitement and concern. Rapid blinking, shifting eye movements, and occasional tightening of her jaw were cited as possible indicators that the Duchess was thinking about how she was being perceived by the audience.

According to James, Meghan may have been eager to demonstrate her support for Serena, particularly given the effort she had made to attend the tournament.

At the time, Meghan had recently given birth to her son Archie and had traveled a considerable distance to be present at the event. James suggested that she likely wanted her attendance to send a clear message of friendship and loyalty toward Serena.

Meanwhile, Oracene’s behavior conveyed something entirely different. The analyst described Serena’s mother as remaining “in the zone,” showing little awareness of the cameras, crowd reactions, or any interactions taking place around her.

Despite the speculation surrounding the clip, Meghan and Serena continued to publicly demonstrate their friendship in the years that followed.

One of the most notable examples came when Serena appeared as a guest on Meghan’s Spotify podcast, Archetypes. During their conversation, Serena spoke warmly about their friendship and described herself as fiercely loyal to the people she cares about.

The tennis champion emphasized the length of their relationship and highlighted the trust that had developed between them over the years.

Serena has also publicly defended Meghan on several occasions. Following the Duchess’s widely watched interview with Oprah Winfrey, Serena praised her friend’s grace and composure under intense public scrutiny.

In previous interviews and reports, Serena has reportedly offered Meghan advice on coping with media attention and navigating the pressures that come with global fame.

Biographical accounts of Serena’s life suggest that the pair regularly communicated through phone calls and messages as their friendship evolved. After Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry became public, Serena was said to have served as a trusted confidante during periods of intense media coverage.

One piece of advice often attributed to Serena is her suggestion that Meghan should stop trying so hard to please everyone. According to various reports, Serena encouraged her friend to be more confident in setting boundaries and less concerned about satisfying critics.

Although the 2019 US Open footage continues to generate discussion among body language enthusiasts and royal watchers, there is no public evidence that the moment had any lasting impact on Meghan’s friendship with Serena or her relationship with Serena’s family.

Nevertheless, the clip remains a fascinating example of how brief public interactions involving high-profile figures can be endlessly analyzed years later, particularly when viewed through the lens of celebrity culture, media scrutiny, and public perception.