Mariano Navone's US Open Journey and Personal Life Revealed
Mariano Navone is tearing through the US Open draw and dragging his private life into the spotlight with him.
The 23-year-old Argentinian stunned the tennis world earlier in the week by knocking out Novak Djokovic in the first round, then backed it up with a composed win over Matteo Berrettini in round two. Next up is a clash with compatriot Tomás Martín Etcheverry on September 4, the biggest match of his career at a tournament where he has never gone this deep.
He is still hunting his first Grand Slam title, but as the results stack up and the cameras close in, the questions have shifted. Not just about his forehand, his nerve, or his fitness. About his life away from the baseline.
A quiet confirmation in a wild moment
Navone gave a rare glimpse into that side of his world right after the Djokovic upset. Still riding the adrenaline of the biggest win of his career, he admitted he wouldn’t be celebrating alone.
“I don't want to get too emotional, but… it's going to be quite a night. In a little while, I'll call my sisters, my girlfriend, everyone. It's just crazy, but I'm truly happy, so happy about this,” he told reporters.
No fanfare. No social media reveal. Just a simple confirmation dropped into the chaos of a career-defining night: yes, Mariano Navone has a girlfriend.
Who is Julieta Villarreal Cerezo?
Her name is Julieta Villarreal Cerezo, and while Navone’s Instagram is dominated by tennis courts, training sessions, and tournament snapshots, she does appear in the feed at key moments.
In February 2025, he posted a birthday tribute to her, one of the few personal notes among the results and rankings. Written in his native language, the message translated roughly to a warm, understated declaration: unconditional love, a unique companion, and a nod to her talent for making chocotorta. He finished it with a simple, intimate wish for more coffee and little trips together.
It wasn’t the first time she featured. Navone had also shared a birthday post for Cerezo in February 2024, suggesting their relationship stretches back at least that far, even if the exact start date remains out of the public eye.
Communications, not centre court
Cerezo is not a player, but her professional life runs close to the sport.
According to her LinkedIn profile, she works as a senior communications analyst in the marketing department at Asociación Argentina de Polo, a role she has held since 2024. Before that, she spent five years, from 2019 to 2024, in the press and communications department at Asociación Argentina de Tenis.
That overlap with the national tennis federation may well be where their paths first crossed. The sport that now defines Navone’s breakthrough moment likely introduced him to the person watching it all unfold from just beyond the spotlight.
As he walks into the biggest match of his US Open run so far, chasing a first Grand Slam trophy with the tennis world suddenly paying attention, one thing is clear: when the noise dies down and the cameras switch off, he already knows exactly who he’s calling.
