Five married couples to feature at Wimbledon

Some of these players were considered to be world beaters during their prime.

When you are a professional athlete, finding time for yourself is scarce. You are constantly travelling and training to be in the best shape. Finding love becomes a problem too, however, many athletes have found it in their own profession. Tennis stars are no exception to it, some of whom have found their better halves at Wimbledon and graced the Grand Slam with their presence.

They played in the tournament and entertained the crowd with their top skills. India's Divij Sharan and his wife Samantha Murray Sharan became the most recent married couple to participate in the mixed doubles category at Wimbledon 2021. They reached the second round of the tournament before losing out against Raven Klaasen and Darija Jurak.

Let us take a look at some married couples in tennis, who have participated in the Wimbledon.

5. Radek Stepanek and Nicole Vaidisova

Czech stars, Radek Stepanek and Nicole Vaidisova married in 2010. Stepanek, who is mostly known for being Indian tennis superstar Leander Paes's doubles partner, is a veteran of the sport. He won the Australian Open and US Open in 2012 and 2013 respectively. However, he is yet to achieve any big success at Wimbledon.

Vaidisova, on the other hand, is a former top 10 singles player, who also is the 12th youngest tennis player to achieve that feat. She has reached the quarter-final of the Wimbledon twice in her career (2007 and 2008).

Their marriage, however, was not as smooth as their tennis careers. After three years of marriage, the couple had filed for divorce.

Stepanek had started dating compatriot Petra Kvitova during that phase. However, things turned for the good in 2018 and the couple reunited and remarried. They later became proud parents of a baby girl, Stella.

4. Fabio Fognini and Flavia Pennetta

Fabio Fognini and Flavia Pennetta have competed in all Grand Slam events in their careers. However, they have not enjoyed much success at Wimbledon.

They were engaged in 2015 and married in 2016. Pennetta gave birth to a baby boy in 2017, followed by a daughter in 2019. Fognini has not progressed beyond the third round at Wimbledon in his career so far. On the other hand, Pennetta reached the semi-finals two times in the mixed doubles category.

Moreover, they have also participated in the Hopman Cup, representing Italy.

3. Bjorn Borg and Mariana Simionescu

Five time Wimbledon champion, Bjorn Borg married Romanian tennis star Mariana Simionescu in 1980. Simionescu had won the Roland Garros junior title in 1973 and came into prominence. Her career best Grand Slam performance was in 1977. The Romanian reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon tournament that year.

On the other hand, Bjorn Borg won five Wimbledon singles titles. However, the marriage was short-lived. The couple parted ways in 1984. Siomionescu never remarried after that. Borg has married twice since then.

2. Roger Federer and Miroslava Vavrinec

It was love at first sight when Roger Federer met Miroslava (Mirka) Vavrinec in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The couple has never left each other's side since then. Twenty years later and after twelve years of marriage, they are still together.

Federer has ruled the grass court of Wimbledon for nearly two decades. The Swiss has accumulated eight titles on his favourite turf. On the contrary, Mirka has not been as successful as Federer at the All England Club. Her two exploits in 2000 and 2001 saw her facing defeat in the first round. She also teamed up with Roger for the 2002 Hopman Cup, which turned out to be unsuccessful. Consequently, she formally announced her retirement from the sport in 2002.

1. Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf

The pair of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf is probably the most iconic of tennis couples. They ruled the tennis courts during the '90s. Both players also share nine Wimbledon trophies between them, eight of which belong to Steffi.

The couple married in 2001 and are parents to two, Jaden Gil and Jazz Elle. After retirement from sports, the couple has transitioned into business. Moreover, Agassi is also actively working as a coach for Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov. The couple also divides their time playing exhibition tennis matches for charity.

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