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Tennis stars' new romance revealed at Australian Open

Tennis fans are in a frenzy after a new romance between two players came to light on Thursday.

Popular French star Gael Monfils was spotted watching Elina Svitolina during the Ukrainian’s clash with Viktoria Kuzmova on Rod Laver Arena.

Monfils was sitting in Svitolina’s box right next to her coaches, applauding every time she won a point.

Svitolina then appeared to confirm the relationship in her post-match interview on court.

“Well, everyone’s seen him now,” Svitolina said when asked if they were an item, blushing ever-so-slightly.

“Hopefully we’ll see him many more times in the future.”

Monfils and Svitolina. Image: Channel Nine
Monfils and Svitolina. Image: Channel Nine

Fans immediately erupted on social media.

Of course Monfils and Svitolina wouldn’t be the first players to start a relationship.

Dominic Thiem and Kristina Mladenovic are a couple, while Stan Wawrinka and Donna Vekic have been together for some time.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are married, as are Italian players Flavia Pennetta and Fabio Fognini.

Monfils’ support clearly helped Svitolina, cruising into the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

Elina Svitolina celebrates. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Elina Svitolina celebrates. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Can Svitolina win the Australian Open?

After an undefeated run to win the WTA Finals in Singapore late last year, the Ukrainian shapes as a real chance to claim her first major title at Melbourne Park.

“That definitely brought me lots of confidence and showed I could play at a really high level,” said the 24-year-old.

She needed just 67 minutes on Thursday to dispatch Kuzmova and advance to a third-round clash with Czech Kristyna Pliskova or China’s Zhang Shuai.

Meanwhile, No.29 seed Camila Giorgi from Italy took an even more straightforward path into the third round by belting Poland’s Iga Swiatek 6-2 6-0.

with AAP