Mariano Navone's US Open Journey and His Support System
Mariano Navone is ripping up the script at the US Open, and he’s doing it with a tight inner circle behind him.
The Argentinian stunned the tournament early by knocking out Novak Djokovic in the first round, then backed it up with another statement win over Matteo Berrettini in round two. Next up: a clash with compatriot Tomás Martín Etcheverry on September 4, the biggest match of his Grand Slam career so far.
As his profile explodes almost overnight, curiosity around his life away from the baseline has grown just as quickly — especially about who’s sharing this breakthrough with him.
Navone confirms he’s taken
After his seismic win over Djokovic, Navone allowed himself a brief, emotional glimpse behind the curtain when speaking to reporters. He didn’t dwell on tactics or rankings. He talked about the people he wanted to call.
“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 said.
No ambiguity there. Navone is in a relationship, and he’s not shy about acknowledging how central that support system is in the middle of the biggest week of his career.
Who is Julieta Villarreal Cerezo?
The woman at the heart of that quote is Julieta Villarreal Cerezo.
Navone keeps his social media largely focused on his work — practice courts, match days, the grind of the tour — but he made a rare exception in February 2025, posting a birthday tribute to Cerezo on Instagram.
The message, written in his native language, painted a clear picture of how he sees her: “Unconditional love, a companion like no other, and she makes an amazing chocotorta, too. I love you so much—here's to more coffee and little trips.”
It wasn’t a one-off either. He had also shared a birthday post for her in February 2024, suggesting this relationship has been in place at least through the last couple of seasons, even if the exact start date remains private.
A career in communications — and close to the sport
Cerezo isn’t just watching Navone’s rise from afar. Her own career runs close to the heart of Argentine 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 previous job may well have been the bridge between their two worlds. She worked inside the federation that oversees the sport in their home country, while he climbed the ranks on court. The overlap is obvious; the details of how they met remain theirs.
What’s clear now is that as Navone walks into the biggest match of his US Open run, he does so with more than just a hot streak and a dangerous forehand. He has a partner who understands both the sport and the spotlight — and in a fortnight that can change a career, that kind of grounding can matter just as much as any seed or draw.
