First Serve: Swimming golden girl Ariarne Titmus shows off new love at Australian Open 2025 women’s semi-finals

Australia’s swimming golden girl has enjoyed her “first night out in the wild” with her new partner, the pair watching Madison Keys get the better of Iga Swiatek.

Australia’s swimming golden girl Ariarne Titmus has found love.

The Queensland-based Olympic champion is noticeably spending more time in Melbourne and there’s a romantic reason why — she’s met a man named Mack.

The pair were spotted at the Australian Open on Thursday night watching the women’s semi-finals after she attended and worked at the AO Inspo Series event.

“It’s our first night out in the wild,’’ Titmus said.

“We met three months ago and I’m very happy.”

Ariarne Titmus with her new partner Mack at the Australian Open

Titmus was in Melbourne over the Spring Racing Carnival, last month at the NGV Gala and has been working for the past two weeks on Nine’s coverage of the tennis doing colour reporting.

She is on a break from the pool but has confirmed she won’t be retiring and intends to get back to training by July.

She didn’t reveal too much about her new love other than saying the tall, dark and handsome man is a normal guy and not inthe spotlight.

At the Paris Olympics last year Titmus defended her 400m freestyle title by winning the ‘Race of the Century’ against KatieLedecky and Summer McIntosh before winning another gold medal as part of Australia’s women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.She also won silver medals in her 200m and 800m freestyle events.

The 24-year-old wanted to take extended leave and is ready for her next chapter in the water.

Titmus and Mark mee in O. Picture: Fiona Hamilton/ Tennis Australia

Celebrities in town for AO finals

The celebrity line-up at the Australian Open this weekend will serve up big names with more expected to be confirmed by Sunday.

Deborra-Lee Furness is attending the women’s final with her children Ava and Oscar as guests of Emirates, along with Paul Dainty, Carrie Bickmore and actors Josh Heuston and Kat Stewart.

For the men’s final the airline will host Australian actor Geoffrey Rush and his son James. Picture: VALERIE MACON / AFP

For the men’s final the airline will host Australian actor Geoffrey Rush and his son James, along with Ricky and Rianna Ponting, Brooke and Myles Pitt and Jack Steele and Matt Ford of the Inspired Unemployed.

Avid tennis fans Mark Webber and Eric Bana are expected to be courtside, with British adventurer Bear Grylls tipped to be at the men’s final.

Deborra-Lee Furness is attending the women’s final with her children Ava and Oscar as guests of Emirates. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Models Victoria Lee and Georgia Fowler will attend finals with Ralph Lauren, with Russell Crowe a possibility of making an appearance.

Ian Thorpe, Jess from The Veronicas, Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo are also attending over coming days, while Olympic swimming champion Emma McKeon and cricket great Brett Lee are going to the men’s final with Marriott Bonvoy.

Comedian Magda Szubanski is a guest of Piper Heidsieck, with the chase still on to lure pop star Kylie Minogue back to Melbourne Park.

Ricky and Rianna Ponting will attend the AO finals. Picture: Supplied

More than 20 years ago Minogue sat courtside on Rod Laver Arena with Hollywood star Joel Edgerton, who delivered the men’s winner’s trophy last year.

Edgerton and wife Christine Centenera, the editor-in-chief of Vogue Australia, could be back at the tennis on Sunday, with Ralph Lauren.

Many AFL players will also turn out across the weekend.

Demon parties at Melbourne hotspot

Alex de Minaur let off some steam at Bar Bambi on Thursday night.

Alongside one of his coaches Matt Reid, the Aussie who bowed out in the quarter-finals joined revellers at the Bar Bambi x Grey Goose Tennis Ball hosted by Nick and Dan Russian.

Nick Russian, Alex de Minaur and Matt Reid at Bar Bambi

Hannah Dal Sasso and Riley Armitage

Other guests included Demi Brereton, Nathan McGuire, Hannah Dal Sasso, Izzy Armitage, Riley Armitage, Sam Guggenheimer, Bella Varelis, Liv Grivas, Morgan Waterhouse, Aisha Jade and more.