Entertainment
‘RHOM’ Julia Lemigova and tennis icon Martina Navratilova adopt two sons
Martina Navratilova and Julia Lemigova welcome two adopted sons into their family.
August 14, 2024, published at 8:19 PM ET
The Real Housewives of Miami star Julia Lemigova and her tennis icon wife Martina Navratilova are now the proud parents of two young boys.
The couple said they were “over the moon” after their adoption process was previously put on hold due to Navratilovas’ cancer battle. RadarOnline.com can reveal.
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Lemigova and Navratilovas adopted two young boys.
Officer Mary Greenham announced the adoption. Navratilovas, 67, and Lemigova, 52 – who have been married since 2014 – asked for privacy as they “welcome the new members of their family.”
The former world number one tennis player said: “We are over the moon and recognize the challenges and the rewards for everyone.”
Navratilova and Lemigova are certainly no strangers to ‘challenges’ during their adoption journey. The 67-year-old was previously diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and later throat cancer.
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The couple was forced to put their adoption plans on hold due to Navratilovas’ battle with cancer.
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The former Grand Slam winner said this Piers Morgan in 2023, it was unlikely they would be able to adopt while she was undergoing treatment. Lemigova confirmed in December of that same year that their adoption plans were “on hold” due to her wife’s battle with cancer.
Their adoption journey was well documented on the hit Bravo show. During season 5, the reality star opened up about the couple’s desire to expand their family after Lemigova’s two daughters moved away.
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In episode 13 she said: “Martina and I are going to do our best to try – oh my god, I’m getting chills. We are going to adopt a baby. If they called me tomorrow to say there’s a little boy who needs a home, I mean, I would just collapse on the floor and die.
During the season 5 reunion, she revealed that the couple’s adoption plans were put on the back burner while the couple focused on Navratilovas’ health.
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The couple has been married since 2014.
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The reality star told the host Andy Cohen: “If you adopt a child, it should be about the child. And right now it’s all about Martina, and her recovery.”
“You know, every moment we thought the agency was going to call and tell us the happy news that we’re going to have a baby… instead we’re fighting two forms of cancer.”
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Still, the couple remained determined to adopt — and Lemigova insisted they wouldn’t “close” their plans.
Fortunately, Navratilova’s double cancer treatments were successful — and in June 2023, she revealed that she was officially “cancer-free.”
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The tennis icon and reality star made history as Bravo’s first same-sex couple in the Housewives franchise.
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The couple made Bravo history in 2021 when they became the first same-sex couple to appear on the show Housewives franchise. The Bravo star said she was “overwhelmed” by the love and support fans showed her wedding.
Navratilova and Lemigova’s paths initially crossed in 2000, but lost contact. Eight years later they met again.
Lemigova recalled the reunion, saying: “I was modeling and living in Paris [when we first met] and meeting all these wonderful people – famous people, royals. I’m not a tennis fan, but of course I knew who she was and we started talking.”
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Seemingly destined to be together, the women once again found themselves in each other’s orbit at the 2008 French Open. Their relationship started as just friends before turning romantic.
Lemigova has three children – a deceased son and two adult daughters – from previous relationships.
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