It Must Be Love at the US Open

By Tracey DeFrancesco

The story behind the US Open marriage proposal that ESPN showed and Federer commented on post-match is more complicated than it seemed at first, but no less romantic. Queens, New York, residents Jorge Gaitan, an IT consultant, and Paola Moscoso, a personal banker, were actually married in April following his first proposal in January. The couple, both originally from Bogotá, Colombia, met three years ago when a mutual friend invited Jorge to a party at Paola’s house. They started dancing together, exchanged phone numbers, and began dating.

Throughout their relationship, Jorge would periodically ask Paola to be his girlfriend again to show her that he didn’t take her for granted. “I just want her to feel special.”

The pair enjoys watching tennis, especially Federer and Djokovic, but they don’t play. “I tried but I’m just not good,” admits Jorge. He first became a fan of the sport around 2003, after moving to the US, when his mentor in his ESL class talked to him about tennis to help him learn English.

Normally ,Paola leaves her engagement ring at home when the couple heads out to crowded events, but on Monday night Jorge grabbed it before heading out to watch the Federer vs. John Isner match. During the changeover at 3-2 in the second set, the crowd in their section of Arthur Ashe Stadium started dancing and Jorge and Paola jumped up to join in. All of a sudden, Jorge pulled out the ring, got down on one knee, and proposed to his bride again. “She had the same reaction as the first time,” Jorge says, “she covered her face, then she looked at me and extended her hand.”

Within minutes of being shown on TV, the married couple began getting texts and Facebook messages from friends and family as far away as Colombia and Ecuador. Jorge’s mentor, Jack, texted him from Pennsylvania, asking why he proposed again. “Proposing once is overrated!,” laughs Jorge, adding, “You should do it as many times as you want. You have to make her feel special.”

During his on court interview following the match, Brad Gilbert asked Roger for his thoughts on the proposal. “I think it's a good move! I'm very happy for him that she said yes, it seemed like, and I think it's very cute. I wouldn't do it, personally, like that. But if they like tennis, that's awesome. I wish them all the best.”

The couple waited outside the player area until 1:30 in the morning hoping for a chance to meet Federer, which they finally did with the help of some friendly security guards. When they asked Roger for a photo, he agreed without hesitation and then congratulated them.

Jorge and Paola are currently saving for a house, and they hope to start a family within the next two years. In the meantime, they’re working to hold on to the honeymoon phase. “I never thought this could be news worthy,” says Jorge. “It's just silly stuff I do to make her smile and show her how much I love her.”