Over the past few years, Italian tennis has seen a massive rise. While the likes of Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini are leading from the front, other stars have been slowly making strides to reach the very top. Among them is Lorenzo Sonego, a lanky Italian player known for hitting the ball hard. Sonego is showing his true potential at the ongoing Australian Open, where he has reached the quarterfinals—his best result in a Grand Slam to date. Alongside his on-court success, Sonego has also found unwavering support in his long-time girlfriend, Alice Petruccioli.

Sonego and Petruccioli have been together for over five years, with their story beginning at a tournament in Miami, where they instantly connected. At the time, Petruccioli was pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin. Now a qualified nutritional biologist, she is deeply dedicated to her profession, once saying, “My strong passion in this area pushes me to continue my training and constantly update myself to acquire new knowledge and skills.”

The couple shares a love for travel, often spotted vacationing together in picturesque and intimate locations. Despite their close bond, Sonego and Petruccioli prefer to keep their personal lives out of the spotlight, rarely sharing moments from their relationship on social media. While their fans eagerly speculate about their future together, the two have yet to tie the knot.

Nonetheless, the two are strong supporters of each other’s careers and Petruccioli can be often found supporting Sonego from his player’s box. As Sonego achieved his best result at Grand Slams by reaching the last eight, he spilled the secret of his success.

Lorenzo Sonego addresses a major shift

The Italian star is known for his aggressive style of tennis, a trait that mirrors his bold personality. Last year, Lorenzo Sonego’s fiery on-court demeanor occasionally worked against him, as his intensity sometimes led to unforced errors and moments of frustration. Recognizing this as an area for growth, Sonego has made a conscious effort to refine his approach.

During an interview, he said, “I do some exercises, breathing and it helps me. I stay calm on the court and my attitude is different than last year, and I am really calm on the court. I started last season to work with some people who helped me with the breathing. We do something every day and that’s good for the recovery, for the mind, and for staying focused every time during the match. It helps me a lot. This was the first Grand Slam in my life, and I think one of the best tournaments. It’s nice to be in the third round again, and I want to continue in this tournament.”

Meanwhile, in the last eight, Sonego will take on Ben Shelton. It’ll be interesting to see who comes out on the top in this thrilling battle. Let us know your predictions in the comment section below!