Partners of the Australian Open: From Ash Barty's boyfriend to Rafa Nadal's wife
Some of the biggest stars of the Australian Open would be nothing without the love and support of their family.
Here’s a quick look at some of the WAGs and HABs you might see around Melbourne Park in 2020:
Ash Barty’s boyfriend Garry Kissick
Barty’s friends recently revealed how her relationship with Garry Kissick has helped her rise to the top of the tennis world.
Barty broke a 46-year drought earlier in 2019 when she became the first Australian woman to win the French Open since Margaret Court in 1973.
Kissick couldn’t make it to Paris to cheer on his girlfriend in person, but posted an emotional message to social media afterwards.
“Amazing! The puppies and I are so proud of you baby! Many more to come,” Kissick wrote on Instagram.
According to New Idea: “Friends say (Kissick)... is a big part of her success because together they have created a home filled with love.”
Kissick, 28, is a trainee professional golfer and reportedly met Barty at Brooklands Golf Club in Queensland in 2016 when she was playing a round.
Rafael Nadal’s wife Xisca Perello
Nadal married long-time partner Xisca Perello in a ceremony on the Spanish island of Mallorca in 2019.
For years fans had been wondering why Nadal hadn’t popped the question after their 14-year relationship.
According to Hello! Magazine, Nadal and Perello got engaged back in May 2018, but had been keeping it a secret.
Nadal and Xisca shared a sweet moment at the 2019 Australian Open after Nadal said she’d finally received a ‘wildcard’ to come to watch him play two years before.
“As I say to you a couple of years ago in 2017, it was the first time she was able to be here. She received the wildcard in that moment,” Nadal told commentator Jim Courier.
“Now after 14 years together she doesn’t need wildcards at all. She’s coming wherever she wants. That’s how it works.”
Roger Federer’s wife Mirka
Roger and Mirka are the golden couple of tennis, with fans swooning over their relationship for years.
They first met way back in 2000 when they were both playing for Switzerland at the Sydney Olympics.
They immediately hit it off, marrying in 2009 and now have four children – Myla, Charlene, Lenny and Leo.
“We were both playing for Switzerland in tennis and we spent two weeks together in those dorms,” Federer told CNN last year.
“We were together with the wrestlers and all the other cool athletes. We were very lucky, we had the most incredible time.
“I guess over the two weeks, we built up some chemistry and didn’t know if this was going to take us anywhere or if this was just a moment in time.
“It was more than just a kiss. It was something that led to something extraordinary for us and we’re very happy to still be together.”
Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian
Serena and her husband celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary in November, with Serena jokingly thanking the entrepreneur for “putting up with me.”
Williams and Ohanian wed in a spectacular ceremony at the Contemporary Arts Centre in New Orleans, two years after meeting at a hotel pool in Rome where Williams stayed for the Italian Open and the Reddit co-founder was a conference speaker.
According to Vogue, the future spouses missed the hotel’s famous buffet, so they ate breakfast outside, joking and making small talk until Williams asked him to pull up a seat.
The couple have a two-year-old daughter together - Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
Ohanian is frequently spotted courtside during Serena’s matches and even appeared to take a cheeky swipe at Maria Sharapova during their match at the 2019 US Open.
Novak Djokovic’s wife Jelena
Djokovic paid an emotional tribute to his wife and young family after winning a record seventh Australian Open crown last year.
“I hope they’ve been watching – well at least they said before the match that they would watch,” he said after beating Rafa Nadal in the final.
“Trophies are even more special when I have someone so dear and so special to me in my life to share this with.
“They are my dearest people on this planet next to my two brothers and my parents. I love them very much. I want to thank them for unconditional love and support through all these years.
“They’ve sacrificed a lot of their time and energy for me to live my dream to be standing here today and I try to always remind myself and not take that for granted.”
Novak and Jelena married in 2014 and have two children together - Stefan, 5, and Tara, 2.
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina
One of the rare tennis-playing couples, Monfils and Svitolina have been an item since late 2018.
They made some unique history at the 2019 US Open when they both managed to reach the quarter-finals.
"Definitely we are pushing each other, I think, because we are trying to join each other in the (next round)," Svitolina said at the time.
Last year Monfils opened up on what it was like dating a fellow tennis player.
“When you are with someone who is not in tennis, you do not necessarily feel well because we have a life where we have to be more selfish,” he said.
“We are selfish. We have the same desires. You leave the stadium, you just want one thing, go to your hotel room and relax.
“When you hang out with someone outside tennis, who waits all day when you are in New York and the weather is nice, she wants to go drink something, which is normal."
Caroline Wozniacki’s husband David Lee
Flanked by a number of friends from the world of professional sports, Wozniacki and former NBA star David Lee tied the knot in Italy last June.
Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion and Lee, who played 12 seasons in the NBA and won a ring in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors, met in Miami during a Warriors road trip.
One of Wozniacki’s greatest rivals on the court, Serena Williams, was present for the ceremony as a bridesmaid, which isn’t a surprise given her relationship with the bride.
Even though Williams holds a 10-1 career record against Wozniacki, the pair are known as best friends off the court.
Other attendees included Williams’ husband, two former teammates of Lee’s - Pau Gasol and Harrison Barnes - and three-time grand slam winner Angelique Kerber.
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