“He told me. “Take my number.” Marion Bartoli and Tom Cruise, an unlikely friendship.

The first time they actually talked to Kate Middleton was over tea. In July 2023, Marion Bartoli, who serves as a consultant to Prime Video for Roland Garros, spoke in a column: parisian her unlikely friendship with Tom Cruise. The tennis player was actually the only French woman to interview the actor on radio, RMC, on July 6, 2023, to promote his film. Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1. An interview that took place at Wimbledon, the same venue where they met in 2022, “with many distinguished guests at an official dinner in the UK”.

“I was invited there as a former winner (he won the tournament in 2013, editor’s note“, he explained to the daily newspaper. I arrived late and I remember saying to my husband. “I think I recognize Tom Cruise.” When Wimbledon boss Ian Hewitt calls out the athlete during his speech, he turns to meet the actor’s gaze. “I was extremely impressed, I definitely blushed,” she continued. tom cruise i grew up with his movies i was born in the 1980s i’m a big fan i loved it Top Gun: and all Mission Impossible“.

Tea with the Princess of Wales

Marion Bartoli is still far from doubting that he will be friends with the actor. After dessert is served, Tom Cruise is the first to congratulate her on her 2013 win at his table. that he loved my style,” she explained parisian. The two will later meet for tea with the Princess of Wales. “He came to talk to me again and asked what happened to me when I stopped playing tennis,” Marion Bartoli said. I tell him about my new life, my show at RMC, my desire to go further in my career. And then he told me. “Take my number, if I can ever help you, I will be happy to do so.” »

Since then, Tom Cruise and Marion Bartoli have been close. “I didn’t want to be a bandleader, so I let it go for a while,” he continued. After a month or two, I sent him a quick message to see how he was doing. He answered me immediately, saying that everything was fine, even though he had broken two fingers hanging from the helicopter. Then we started corresponding more regularly.” During their exchange, the former tennis player asks him for advice on her career, to which the actor replies “very kindly”. Until the actor offered to interview him. “Obviously I accepted without hesitation.”

“He’s a bit like my coach”

For two months, the tennis champion prepared for the interview, determined to ask the right questions. “It went really well, we had a great time, it was very strong,” he said. He even sent me a little message afterwards to tell me he was proud of me and that I should keep going. The former professional sportswoman also praises the actor. “We’re both very hardworking and neither of us do things by halves,” he said. Parisian. He’s an incredible actor who knows how to make the most of his talent, he leaves nothing to chance.” Before adding: “Tom is deeply kind and generous, he is an extremely human person. He fundamentally wants to help people who are going forward like him.”

And the tennis player emphasizes their many points in common. “We both come from afar and fight to get as far as possible,” he said. He saw me struggle to win a Grand Slam and then my fledgling media career. He wanted to give me a helping hand and he’s a bit like my coach because I can ask him for a lot of advice. A true professional company.” To thank Tom Cruise for participating in his “Bartoli Time” show, the thirty-year-old girl gave him the racket with which he won Wimbledon. The duo plans to meet again soon, this time on the court. “He told me last year that he would like to play with me one day,” Marion Bartoli said. So we decided that we will have a match together soon after the Wimbledon tournament is over.” A real fight above.