Excited Meghan Markle is the center of attention as she watches great friend Serena Williams attempt to win her 24th Grand Slam after a last minute dash across the Atlantic to New York City

Meghan Markle is court side at the US Open final as she watches her friend Serena William attempt to win her historic 24th Grand Slam.

The Duchess of Sussex was all smiles as she cheered on the former world number one, 37, as her nail-biting clash with Canadian Bianca Andreescu at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens got underway.

She was seen standing up to give her a round of applause as Williams walked on to the court, and was sitting in the tennis star’s box along with her husband, Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian.

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who is an avid fan of the game, was seated behind the Duchess, who appeared enthralled as the action on court got underway.

Meghan Markle, (pictured), is court side at the US Open final as she watches her friend Serena William attempt to win her historic 24th Grand Slam

The Duchess stood up to give her a round of applause as Williams walked on to the court along with the tennis star’s husband, Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian

Should Williams win, it’ll be her first grand slam title since the in 2017 – after which she took a year out of the game to have her daughter with co-founder husband Alexis Ohanian.

Fellow mother Meghan was cheering her on in a show of solidarity, as Williams battles back to form following a series of defeats following her pregnancy – recently losing out in the final of Wimbledon in London.

Williams was 17 when she won her first Grand Slam singles title in 1999 at the US Open.

Speaking before the game began, Williams, who appeared nervous, claimed: ‘It’s incredible to be honest out there, 33 is a lot of times to be in the final

‘Honestly it’s unbelievable I would have never written or expected it. Everything is a bonus and I am just so excited,’

Williams, who is mother to two-year-old Alexis, wore a Nike lilac colored two piece suit with her hair tied back in her trademark bun.

Williams beat Ukranian Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals on Thursday and is vying to win her 24th career Grand Slam title, which would tie her with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history.

Andreescu had never advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam prior to the 2019 U.S. Open. The 19-year-old Canadian defeated Belinda Bencic in straight sets in the semifinals on Thursday.

The Duchess, who left her husband Prince Harry and four-month old son Archie at home in the U.K, was beaming as she greeted a friend of Williams before the women’s final began

Vogue editor Anna Wintour was seated behind the Duchess, who appeared enthralled as the action on court got underway.

The 37-year-old Williams has lost all three major finals she has reached since returning from giving birth, including to Naomi Osaka in Flushing Meadows last year.

That match is best remembered for Williams’ arguments with chair umpire Carlos Ramos.

On Friday her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, also believes her familiarity with the big stage could give her an edge.

Meanwhile Meghan Markle flew from London Heathrow, leaving Prince Harry and their four-month-old son Archie in Windsor – although a security team is said to be with her.

She is thought to have either boarded the 8.25am flight or the 9am flight from Heathrow.

The 8.25am flight left more than 30 minutes behind schedule. It had been set to arrive in New York for 11.05am local time, but instead arrived at 12.22pm.

The Duchess was seen heading into Modo Yoga with a friend in the trendy West Village neighborhood of Manhattan on Friday.

Meghan, 38, joined a surprisingly full class of up to 60 people at the eco-conscious studio, which specializes in hot yoga classes.

‘There were lots of sweet, knowing smiles’ among those in the room, a source told People.com, with everyone respecting the duchess’s privacy.

Meghan stayed up to watch the semi-final, which ended at 1.30am yesterday UK time, and is thought to have boarded a flight in London at about 8.30am.

The Duchess’ trip also comes as aides insisted Meghan and Harry were too busy working on charitable projects to join the Queen at Balmoral this weekend.

Despite the long flight and a stressful delay for Meghan, sources have claimed that Williams’ coaches aren’t massively thrilled that the Duchess has come to support her friend, as she could distract her from the game in hand.

They are said to be concerned due to the fact that Williams lost when Meghan attended her last match at Wimbledon.

A source told Page Six: ‘Serena asked her coach about Meghan coming when she won last night and everyone is worried, as tennis players are very superstitious, and Serena lost when Meghan came to watch her at Wimbledon.’

The source added that Williams’ aides were concerned that the trip was a publicity stunt.

However, Williams is said to ‘adore’ Meghan and ‘wouldn’t have a word of it.’

It is not yet known where in New York Meghan will be staying and who she will be staying with, however she is thought to have flown first class for the two-day trip across the Atlantic.

The Duchess, who also watched Williams at Wimbledon in July, flew out following the row over she and her husband Prince Harry taking four trips by private jet in 11 days last month.

Meghan is expected to return to Britain on Sunday. A source told The Times: ‘It is a last-minute trip. Excited to support her friend, and then come back.’

She is said to have been thinking about travelling across the Atlantic to attend the final at Arthur Ashe Stadium since Williams won her quarter-final on Wednesday.

This is Meghan’s first trip to New York since her baby shower, which Williams helped organize in February, when she partied for five nights at a $70,000-a-night penthouse with her celebrity friends.

The party, which caused disquiet in Britain due to its eye-watering estimated total bill of $405,000, was hosted by Williams and her long-standing friend Jessica Mulroney.