Australian Open star forced to practice on court with big mural of his ex-girlfriend
Eagle-eyed fans noticed an awkward detail during Matteo Berrettini’s pre-Australian Open practice session.
Matteo Berrettini practised under a poster of his ex-girlfriend Ajla Tomljanovic (Image: Reddit wendiwendi)
Matteo Berrettini found himself in an awkward spot when he took to a practice court at the Australian Open that had a large poster of his ex-girlfriend on the stand. The former world No. 6 previously dated Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic before they broke up in early 2022. They are now both set to make injury comebacks at the first Grand Slam of the season.
Berrettini is preparing to play his first match since the US Open after physical issues derailed his 2023 season. The Italian tennis star has already arrived at Melbourne Park to start practising for the Australian Open, where he is a former semi-finalist. But fans noticed there was something unique about his choice of court when he came out for a hit ahead of the tournament.
A mural of Tomljanovic overlooked the smaller outdoor court, showing the 30-year-old hitting a shot with the tagline ‘AO hits different’. Berrettini was with the former world No. 32 for almost three years until they split in February 2022. Their relationship was even profiled in the first season of Netflix’s tennis documentary series Break Point.
Berrettini has since started dating Melissa Satta, a model and TV presenter who hosted the opening ceremony at last year’s Ryder Cup. Fans on Reddit noticed that he was in an uncomfortable position during his hit this week, with one writing: “Bit of an awkward court for Matteo to practice on?”
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Matteo Berrettini and Ajla Tomljanovic dated for almost three years until they split in early 2022 (Image: Getty)
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Another user referenced an infamous moment from his Break Point episode with Tomljanovic in the comments, adding: “Right next to the business centre.” Berrettini’s run to the 2022 Australian Open semi-final was featured in season one alongside his ex-girlfriend’s emotional first-round loss to Paula Badosa.
The cameras continued to follow the couple away from the tennis court – including in their shared hotel room in Melbourne, where cracks began to show. Tomljanovic was due to join Tennis Channel for a video interview but Berrettini asked her to leave the room and head to the business centre because he was still in the tournament.
“I have to sleep. You go downstairs and ask for a room,” the Italian said of Tomljanovic’s 8.15am call time. The Australian player joked that she was going to tell the viewers that her partner had kicked her out of the room but Berrettini added: “They’re going to agree with me. I’m still in the Australian Open.”
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Tomljanovic gave in and agreed to conduct the interview in the hotel’s business centre. But the drama didn’t end there, as eagle-eyed viewers later worked out that she was forced to go outside for the call after the Netflix series aired a year later. One fan took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a screenshot of the interview, which showed Tomljanovic sitting in front of some bushes.
But the Australian star laughed it off, replying: “The fact that you found this. No need for a sad face, it’s pretty funny a year later.” Tomljanovic was profiled again in the second part of Break Point’s first season, by which time she told the cameras she had already split from Berrettini.
Both players made brief appearances in the first episode of season two, out this Wednesday, as they succumbed to the ‘Netflix curse’ at last year’s Australian Open – Tomljanovic withdrawing injured before the tournament and Berrettini crashing out to Andy Murray in the first round. They will both be hoping to start this season on a better note after suffering from their own injury woes in 2023.
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Andy Murray will start his 16th Australian Open against No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry – and Novak Djokovic awaits in the third round if both make it that far. Emma Raducanu will return to Grand Slam tennis against Shelby Rogers in the first round of the Australian Open.
Former US Open champion Raducanu practised for two hours at Melbourne Park on Thursday to dispel concerns about her fitness. The world No.299, who played her first event for nearly nine months in Auckland last week, pulled out of two exhibition matches in the Victorian capital this week.
And after missing the last three Majors after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries last May, she will play first against world No.156 Rogers. The American veteran, 31, is making her eighth appearance here and reached the fourth round in 2022. The former world No.30 has been out of action since Wimbledon because of an abdominal injury and has not played a warm-up event.
The winner will face either No.22 seed Sorana Cirstea or China’s Wang Yafan in the second round. British No.1 Katie Boulter will start against world No.73 Yue Yuan.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek faces former champion Sofia Kenin in the first round while No.3 seed Elena Rybakina plays Karolina Pliskova. Former world No.1 Naomi Osaka will face No.16 seed Caroline Garcia on her return to the Majors while wildcard Caroline Wozniacki is up against No.20 seed Magda Linette.
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Andy Murray will start his latest major against Argentine Etcheverry. The claycourt specialist reached last year’s French Open quarter-finals but has won only one match in his two appearances here.
The winner will face either French veteran Gael Monfils or German Yannick Hanfmann in the second round with defending champion Djokovic up next in round three.
The 10-time champion here, who will face a lucky loser or qualifier in the first round, is the red-hot favourite to set a new singles record of 25 Grand Slam titles. The Serb enjoys a 25-11 winning record against the Scot, including all four finals where they met here. The two 36-year-olds last met in the final of the 2017 Qatar Open.
British No.1 Cam Norrie will start against Juan Pablo Varlilas of Peru. Jack Draper opens against American Marcus Giron while Dan Evans faces a tricky tie against Italian Lorenzo Sonego.
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