Five tennis couples who didn’t make it
After an in-depth report of the top favourite couples from the tennis arena, these include Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Roger Federer and Mirka Vavrinec , and Nicole Vaidisova and Radek Stepanek. It seems only fitting to show a more real-life side to these relationships. While many such romantic connections are ‘the real thing’ and weather media attention, long distances and strenuous routines, for every relationship that makes it, there are many that don’t. Some of the most high profile breakups of our time include the following:
Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert
A couple of the 1970s, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert had one of the most publicized relationships in the tennis world. Both Evert and Connors were intensely successful, two of the top players of their era. It is no wonder that the world fell for this couple just as they fell for each other. Their romantic appeal was enhanced by their teaming up for mixed doubles matches. They were engaged in 1973, planning to marry in November 1974. However, this did not last long and they broke off the engagement, despite staying a couple. Around this time, they individually won the singles matches at the Wimbledon couple, and danced together at the champions’ ball. This reinforced the public’s belief in their relationship and for a brief period they were re-engaged, but split for good in 1976. Evert went on to marry and then divorce another tennis star, Chris Lloyd.
Martina Hingis and Radek Stepanek
Swiss Martina Hingis allegedly met and began dating the Czech Radek Stepanek at the Australian Open 2006. Stepanek proposed to Hingis this same year at the end of the season, in Prague. However, their engagement only became public news in the beginning of 2007. Hingis herself expressed surprise at how long it took the media to notice her engagement ring. However, later in the same year, the engagement was called off. Radek Stepanek married Nicole Vaidisova, another Czech tennis player, this year, whereas Hingis is reportedly single.
Kim Clijsters & Lleyton Hewitt
Clijsters and Hewitt were made famous as the ‘dream couple’. They met in 2000 after Clijsters’s sister asked for Lleyton Hewitt’s autograph, and became engaged in December 2003 on a boat trip around Sydney Harbour. They were a constant courtside presence at each others’ biggest matches, and seemed like they would last. However, Clijsters revealed their breakup in 2004 on her website. She later married NBA star Brian Lynch, while Hewitt wed Bec Cartwright, the Australian actress.
Ana Ivanovic & Fernando Verdasco
Serbian tennis star Ana Ivanovic and Spanish player Fernando Verdasco began dating at the US Open tournament in 2008. However, this relationship could not take the pressures of long distance and their strenuous routines due to two up and coming careers. They announced a split in January 2009.
Dominika Cibulkova & Gael Monfils
This ATP-WTA couple began dating in 2008, beginning their relationship in 2008. Despite being inseparable for some time, the two routinely attended each other’s matches courtside and also played mixed doubles at the 2008 French Open, the two broke up within months. Cilbulkova was also romantically linked to Jurgen Melzer, who was knocked out by Roger Federer in the fourth round of the US Open 2010 this week.
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