Julia Lemigova is opening up about her marriage to tennis legend Martina Navratilova after revealing on the Real Housewives of Miami reunion that she had been intimate with her costar Adriana de Moura. The candid confession surprised fans and raised questions about the status of her marriage, but Lemigova insists they are stronger than ever.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Lemigova explained that the intimate moments with de Moura happened during a complicated phase in her marriage. “Martina and I have gone through ups and downs like any other couple,” Lemigova said. “And during one particularly rough time, we decided to open up our relationship. It was something we both agreed upon and explored, with openness and care. But it also brought challenges that we had to face head-on.”
She described this period as a “midlife crisis” that took place well before she joined the show in 2021. “We were figuring out, that first year, what was going to happen with us,” Lemigova said. “And I think that’s why you see me, in my first season, being more free and drinking shots with pickles and kissing my girlfriends. I was so desperately hungry for fun and lightness, because things at home had been so serious and severe.”
Lemigova made it clear that the open relationship was temporary. “We were not in an open-open relationship, per se,” she explained. “It was just a pass as we gave ourselves time to figure things out. And Martina knew about everything. It wasn’t like I was hiding anything from her. Even with Adriana, I told her.”
She acknowledged that her actions caused pain. “Naturally, Martina wasn’t happy about what happened,” Lemigova admitted. “We had to have some really difficult conversations.”
Those conversations, however, became a turning point. “It became a wake-up call for both of us,” Lemigova said. “It made us more committed to repairing what was slightly fractured, and definitely communicate better — because that’s where, maybe, the fracture started. And today, we’re in a really great place.”
Lemigova took responsibility for her mistakes. “My marriage to Martina is the most sacred part of my life. I hurt her, and I take full responsibility for that. But I’ve asked her for forgiveness and she’s forgiven me.”
The public nature of the confession has been difficult for her family. “That was hard for Martina, when it became public. And it’s been hard on my daughters too,” Lemigova said. “I feel very guilty for putting them through this. But I felt like the only way I could move forward was if I stopped lying.”
Her two adult daughters have been a crucial support system. “This whole thing has actually brought us closer,” Lemigova shared. “I mean, I’m not going to lie — as you saw on the show, we were going through a tough time. But they are my best friends and my biggest supporters. They feel horrible for all the hate I’m getting. They know the truth, and they’ve been by my side to help me through it.”
Ultimately, Lemigova says their focus is now clear. “Our focus is on each other and on our family.”
