Tennis world swoons over Matteo Berrettini and Ajla Tomljanovic
Ajla Tomljanovic was in the fight of her life against World No.2 Simona Halep, and no-one in the crowd was feeling the pressure more than boyfriend Matteo Barrettini.
Aussie star Tomljanovic took a 5-2 lead in the third and served for the match on Wednesday night at the Australian Open.
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But reigning Wimbledon champion Halep steamed back to win five games in a row to secure a 4-6 6-4 7-5 victory.
In a high-quality match that lasted two hours and 34 minutes, the pair went toe-to-toe on Wednesday.
The 72nd-ranked Tomljanovic used her big groundstrokes to pummel the Romanian, who was an Australian Open semi-finalist last year and finalist in 2018.
However her remarkable effort fell agonisingly short.
Watching on from her courtside box was boyfriend and men’s World No.10 Berrettini.
Fans flocked to social media to comment on Berrettini’s rollercoaster of emotions as he watched Tomljanovic go agonisingly close to shocking the World No.2.
Maybe Tomljanovic should isolate for 14 days from Matteo Berrettini more often the way she is playing🤭 #AusOpen
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) February 10, 2021
Halep saves two break points and levels at 4-4.
Berrettini meanwhile is modelling chill in Tomljanovic's box. pic.twitter.com/tsGy2DtfyN— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 10, 2021
It's all getting a bit much for Berrettini as Tomljanovic is pegged back from 40-15 to deuce. pic.twitter.com/rGBxBHyJ3Z
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 10, 2021
Boyfriend suffers. pic.twitter.com/9ArDEeqLSp
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 10, 2021
Berrettini getting animated watching Tomljanovic, probably not for the first time 😜
On his feet #ausopen— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) February 10, 2021
Berrettini better give Tomljanovic a long hug after that loss. She needs it.#AusOpen
— Biola Solace-Chukwu (@Beeorlicious) February 10, 2021
Tomljanovic and Berrettini have been an item since 2019 and are regularly spotted cheering each other on during matches.
Tomljanovic previously dated Nick Kyrgios before things ended messily in 2017.
“I think that if you’re happy off the court it’s definitely going to help your career but at the same time you’ve got to be smart about how you’re going to balance it,” Tomljanovic said last year.
“I really believe that the happiness in general and in life can really help your career.
“I don’t know if that was the secret but there are some examples where that really works.”
Berrettini previously said of Tomljanovic: “I really like how she’s really close to her family and I told her a couple of days ago how I really appreciate the relationship she’s built with my family and my friends.
“It’s not easy, especially because they’re Italian.
“My dad doesn’t speak really good English so it’s tough so it’s really nice and my family loves her.”
Tomljanovic gutted after collapse against Halep
On Wednesday night Tomljanovic was struggling to find the positives in her near-miss against Halep.
“It's hard to talk about it and see any kind of positives,” the 27-year-old said.
“All I wanted to do was to get a win in any way, even if it was the worst tennis ever.
“I know it was a high level match but in the end I lost and that’s the dominant feeling.”
Tomljanovic said she felt “incredibly close” to a win, but knew that Halep, who also won the French Open in 2018, wouldn't surrender.
“She did exactly what I expected and raised her level,” she said.
“I wouldn't say I have crazy regrets (or) I would do anything very different but you've got to win those four points to finish it.”
with AAP
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