The person at every match. The one to give the first hug after a victory. The spouses and partners of professional tennis players are always there to support them no matter what the scoreboard says. With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s time to get sappy. Read the love stories of these past and present pro players.
Roger and Mirka Federer
Roger Federer’s biggest supporter is his wife Mirka, whom the Swiss player described as the “rock in my corner.” The two started dating after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, when he was 18 and she was 21. Mirka was once a top professional player herself, having achieved a ranking of no. 76 in the world, but she was forced to retired after suffering multiple foot injuries. The Federers are parents to two sets of twins: Myla and Charlene and Leo and Lenny.
Andy Murray and Kim Sears
In 2005, up-and-coming tennis star Andy Murray met 17-year-old Kim Sears at the U.S. Open. After nine years of dating, the pair announced that they were in engaged in November. Andy told reporters that being with Kim contributes to his success on the court. “I work better in a relationship,” he said. “At the end of a day, especially if I’ve lost a match, I don’t like talking about tennis, so it’s nice to have someone to talk to about other stuff.” Andy and Kim plan to be wed in April at the Scottish Cromlix Hotel, a luxury castle-like inn that Andy owns.
Li Na and Jiang Shan
Recently retired tennis champion Li Na met husband Jiang Shan when they played on the Hubei provincial team in 1995. Deciding not to pursue playing professionally, Shan became Na’s coach in 2004, and the two married in 2006. In 2013, Na decided to replace Shan as her head coach, but he still remained her hitting partner and constant supporter in the stands. Na said of her husband, “A reporter once flatteringly said, ‘Fortunately, Chinese tennis has Li Na. I thought, That’s not the whole picture. Fortunately, Li Na has Jiang Shan.'” The couple announced they were expecting their first child at the 2015 Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov
Maria Sharapova, 27, and Grigor Dimitrov, 23, have been together two years and are always extremely complimentary of each other’s success in tennis. Grigor called Maria, “by far the greatest fighter ever,” while she said of him: “Obviously, I’ve always kind of watched his career grow from the junior days, and to be able to see him stride in the top direction really puts a smile on my face.” Maria told reporters that although their busy schedules prevent them from spending a lot of time together during tournaments, they always enjoy unwinding at the end of the day and not talking about tennis. (And yep, that’s baby Grigor in the photo below, years before he and Maria became an item.)
Tomas Berdych and Ester Satorova
Australian Open semifinalist Tomas Berdych began dating model Ester Satorova in 2012. The couple announced their engagement earlier this year in Melbourne. Berdych told the press that he proposed to his girlfriend of two years on the beach over the holidays.
Novak and Jelena Djokovic
High school sweethearts Novak and Jelena Djokovic have been together since 2005 and tied the knot last July. Novak said of his beaming bride: “Seeing her for the first time in her wedding dress, smiling and walking towards me — she looked like an angel.” The couple welcomed their first child, Stefan, in October 2014.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf
Love for tennis legends Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf began on the tennis court after Andre, who had always admired the German champion from afar, asked if she wanted to practice with him. In 2001, the couple was married and later had two children, Jaden and Jazz. How do Andre and Steffi keep the romance alive? In a 2007 interview, Andre told ABC News that he had always dreamed about having a chalkboard in his kitchen and so Steffi got him one. Now Andre uses it to write notes to his wife. Steffi said: “Every morning I go down to the kitchen and prepare the bottles for the little one, and I’ll be able to read, you know, something very special for the day.”
Casey Dellacqua and Amanda Judd
Top-ranked Australian Casey Dellacqua balances motherhood and touring with the help of her partner, Amanda Judd. Their son Blake was born in July 2013 and often travels with his mom to watch her play. Casey told reporters that she is grateful to have Amanda by her side, who sometimes stays up late with son Blake when Casey has matches the next day. “Whether I win or lose, I walk off and get to go home to my wonderful family,” Casey said.
