LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA has hit new heights at the All England Club reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.
Her impressive performance has also brought attention to her coach and romantic partner Alessandro Dumitrache – here we get to know him.
Samsonova has qualified for the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time after beating Spaniard Jessica Bouzas in straight sets.
The Russian also en route to reaching the final eight at the tournament.
The 26-year-old now faces tennis legend on Court 1 on July 9, 2025.
She has risen as high as world number 12 under her coach Dumitrache and ahead of the biggest game of her career thus far – here is everything we know about him.
Who is Alessandro Dumitrache?
Alessandro Dumitrache was born on January 1, 1992 in Italy.
He played briefly on the ITF circuit before transitioning into coaching.
The Italian reportedly began coaching Samsonova in 2020 and has overseen her rise in the sport.
Samsonova won the 2021 Berlin Open as well as titles in Washington, Cleveland and Tokyo while being coached by Dumitrache.
She also reached the fourth round of the just prior to impressing further this year in SW19.
In this time it appears the pair have entered a romantic relationship with Instagram posts of the two dating back to 2020.
Much of the relationship remains a mystery with neither confirming that they are dating.
However, a series of Instagram posts on Alessandro’s account seem to suggest that the pair might be.
One post features the pair kissing while holding champagne glasses with the caption, “Best wishes my love”;.
The 33-year-old also has a connection with the sportswear brand Asics stating in his Instagram bio that he is an ambassador for the company.
Liudmila has said very little about her Italian coach in a romantic or professional manner but has stated her gratitude for another member of her coaching team.
Danilo Pizzorno began working with Samsonova in 2019 and the Russian credits a large part of her game to him.
She said: “I think [Danilo] is a genius, a tactical genius. Seriously. It’s not because he’s working with me. I think in the WTA there is no one with the experience and the level of coaching as him.
“It was five years ago when I started working with him. I was working with him at the Piatti Academy and then when I split with Piatti, I contacted him and we started working again.
“All the technical, the shots, my forehand, my backhand, my serves, it’s because of him. He built me.”;
