Former world number one tennis player Ana Ivanovic has officially filed for divorce from her husband, German football legend and World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger, after nine years of marriage. The legal move follows the couple's reported separation earlier this year.
The End of a Sporting Power Couple
The pair, who first met in 2014, were considered one of the most high-profile couples in international sport. They married in a lavish ceremony in Venice in July 2016, surrounded by significant media attention. Ivanovic, who famously won the French Open in 2008, retired from professional tennis just months after their wedding in December 2016.
Their relationship spanned key moments in both their careers. They began dating during Schweinsteiger's long tenure at Bayern Munich, with the midfielder moving to Manchester United in 2015 as Ivanovic was winding down her own glittering career on the court.
Irreconcilable Differences and Lifestyle Strains
In July of this year, Ivanovic's representative, Christian Schertz, publicly announced the couple's separation, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. Reports at the time suggested the marriage was under severe strain due to their differing lifestyles.
Schweinsteiger's frequent travel for his various punditry roles is understood to have been a major factor, while Ivanovic reportedly spent increasing time in her native Serbia. There, she was supported by her family in Belgrade while caring for the couple's three young sons: Luka, Leon, and their youngest, Teo, who was born in 2023.
According to BILD, Ivanovic formally submitted divorce papers at the Munich District Court in November. She has also reportedly filed for child support in Palma de Mallorca, where she now lives with their children.
New Relationships and a Final Break
The split appears to have been finalised following reports of Schweinsteiger's new relationship. German media reported that the 40-year-old former footballer was seen kissing an alleged new girlfriend, identified only as 'Silva', in June. The Bulgarian woman is believed to be known to Schweinsteiger through their children attending the same school.
The pair are said to have holidayed together in Morocco and Mallorca, with BILD reporting the affair began in the summer of 2024. A report in Bunte magazine claimed Ivanovic was initially willing to forgive Schweinsteiger for the sake of their family but decided to cut ties after he expressed a desire to 'live freely'.
The couple's last major public appearance together was at the Laver Cup in Berlin in September 2023. They later shared a festive Instagram post from a Christmas market, but updates on their family life became scarce thereafter. Representatives for both Ivanovic and Schweinsteiger declined to comment when contacted by the German press.
