Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has been on a series of secret dates with former world number three Grigor Dimitrov, MailOnline can reveal.
The 29-year-old reality star is believed to have been introduced to the 33-year-old Bulgarian by mutual friends. The pair have spent time together in London, Paris and Monte Carlo, where Dimitrov lives, after meeting earlier this summer.
Dimitrov previously dated Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and tennis star Maria Sharapova. He was also rumored to be dating seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams.
He has also been linked to American model Emily Ratajkowski.
The Bulgarian has been single since her split from Romanian actress and model Madelina Ghenea, 36, in April. Ekin-Su’s last relationship was with Love Island co-star Davide Sanclimenti, 29, which ended in June last year.
Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu has enjoyed a string of secret dates with former world number three tennis star Grigor Dimitrov, MailOnline can reveal
The reality star, 29, is believed to have been introduced to the Bulgarian, 33, (pictured) by mutual friends and the pair have spent time together in London, Paris and Monte Carlo.
Ekin-Su wanted to keep her romance with Grigor a secret and decided to leave the UK for secret meetings. However, the famous pair have been spotted in the French capital.
A bystander told MailOnline: ‘They were just walking around Paris together, taking pictures with fans and they were so friendly.
‘They got a lot of attention, but it was all a bit surreal. No one expected to see them together.
‘They were just trying to hide, they didn’t want to attract attention.
‘It’s a combination you would never expect when walking the streets of Paris.
‘But they were just hanging out, they looked good together, they were laughing and smiling, and it looked like we were just having fun.
‘Ekin-Su seemed very relaxed, it was clear that there was chemistry and you could feel it straight away.
“They seemed very comfortable in each other’s company.”
The pair have spent time together in London, Paris and Monte Carlo – where Dimitrov lives – after meeting earlier this summer
Dimitrov previously dated Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger (pictured together in March 2017)
He also previously dated fellow tennis player Maria Sharapova (pictured together in June 2014)
In February, Ekin-Su split from Davide Sanclimenti for the second time, after the couple met in the 2022 Love Island villa
A spokesman for Ekin-Su declined to comment.
Dimitrov has won nine ATP tournament championships and has been a semi-finalist at a Grand Slam three times.
He was in a relationship with Scherzinger between 2015 and 2019, after his romance with Sharapova.
Bulgarian tennis star Alize Lim was recently linked to her after he was pictured taking her for a spin in his Lamborghini sports car in Monaco in April.
But it seems Ekin-Su has caught the sportswoman’s attention, recently telling friends that she is “really enjoying life as a single person, after having bounced from one relationship to another before.”
Last week, she bravely revealed that she was a victim of revenge porn.
The reality star had to call the police after she was threatened by a “stalker” over intimate snaps she once sent to an ex-boyfriend.
The incident happened just before her appearance on Love Island in 2022, which she eventually won with Davide.
Ekin-Su has wanted to keep her romance with Grigor (pictured) a secret and has chosen to leave the UK for secret meetings, but the famous pair have been spotted in the French capital
Although the couple split almost a year later, Ekin-Su has still built a career thanks to her role on the ITV2 show. She starred in the American version of The Traitors, for which she recently received an Emmy nomination along with the rest of the cast.
Ekin-Su has openly admitted that she was addicted to chasing external validation, which “led to toxic relationships, superficial friendships and an unhealthy obsession with social media.”
Speaking to Fabulous magazine about her latest romance, she said: ‘It was a toxic relationship that left a lot of emotional scars, but now it’s about looking forward and enjoying life. I wish Davide nothing but happiness.’
Just before her 30th birthday, the star revealed that she is learning to be her own best friend. She admits that she struggles to make friends because she was bullied a lot as a child, which led to her changing her name to ‘Sue’.
She also stated, “My self-worth is anchored in my work and external validation from others. I need to learn to give myself the love I seek from other people.
“But I got my spark back. I know there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but the light is me, and not in the form of a man.”