Stan Smith Sounds Off on the US Open Tennis Stars He’s Betting On, the Allure of Kate Middleton + More at Hyatt Experience Event

Before arriving at the US Open for opening night on Monday, Stan Smith held court at a Hyatt Experience “Find” event at the Thompson Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

The tennis legend posed for photos with adoring fans and signed their new kicks, while reminiscing about his storied history with Adidas, which is celebrating 75 years this year.

FN caught up with Smith, who received our Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, to talk about the players he wants to see dominate the US Open this year, the Paris Olympics and the allure of the Princess of Wales.

Here are highlights from the conversation:

Who to Watch at the U.S. Open:

“Ben Shelton already won [the first round], and he’s one of our favorite stars. And Coco Gauff. I’m really hoping Jessica Pegula might pull it off. She’s No. 6 in the world, and has been as high as No. 3, but she hasn’t won a Grand Slam yet. She was at my tennis academy for about seven years and she’s a favorite.”

Kate Middleton and the Royal Tennis Connection:

“When I received the trophy — when I won Wimbledon in 1972 — the Duchess of Kent was the face of Wimbledon. That was her first year. Now Kate Middleton is going to be the face of Wimbledon for the next couple of generations. She’s a great athlete. She loves tennis and so does Will. She’s so nice and it’s going to be great for Wimbledon and for tennis.”

High Marks for the Paris Olympic Games:

“I’ve been to almost all of the Olympics since 1996 and this was one of the best. It was great.”

His Custom Blue Floral Stan Smith Kicks:

“These were designed by one of the artists at the Champs Elysee store in Paris. He spent about a day on them.”