Fashion icon Victoria Beckham may lead the football WAGs (Wives And Girlfriends) brigade, but there’s plenty of action in other sports. These days, tennis players are also gathering a glamorous brigade filled with their ever supportive partners.
As The Dubai Duty Free Championships unfolds in the city, tabloid! introduces you to the top ten WAGs and HABs (Husbands and Boyfriends) in tennis ...
TOP FIVE WAGs WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IN TENNIS:
Who: Kim Sears
Girlfriend of: Andy Murray
She’s been a constant in Andy Murray’s life and travels the world to cheer him from the stands. The pair met at the 2005 US Open and have been going strong since 2006. The 23-year-old English Literature graduate loves to paint — especially pictures of animals. “Everyone I know treats their pet as an extension of themselves, so I like to think I produce quirky yet emotive paintings that effectively capture what it is we treasure most in our furry companions,” said Sears on her website. The official page also gives you a peek into her personality, which goes far beyond than just being a famous tennis star’s girlfriend. She loves dogs, adores the country side, has a thing for Jilly Cooper novels and wants to write her own novel someday. The handsome couple also share a £5 million, six-bedroom home in Oxshott, Surrey.
Who: Bec Hewitt
Wife of: Lleyton Hewitt
On some days, a day in the life of Bec Lewitt can be more eventful than a tennis match. It’s no easy task being a doting mother to three children, cheering your husband in the stands as a dutiful wife and looking fabulous while she’s at it. The pair married in July 2005 at the Sydney Opera House and their reception was held at the Taronga Zoo. But she was a famous face even before she tied the knot. She started acting at the age of five and rose to prominence in the award-winning soap opera Home And Away, playing the role of Hayley Smith Lawson. In 2005, she became Australia’s sweetheart after she won the first ever series of Austrialia’s Dancing With The Stars.
Who: Brooklyn Decker
Girlfriend of: Andy Roddick (retired)
The swimsuit model, 25, was named Esquire’s 2010 Sexiest Woman Alive after her racy photo-shoot donning a yellow string bikini. Plus she’s no stranger to Hollywood. The model for Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated has acted in films including “Just Go With It,” “Battleship” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Billed as one of the hottest women in the world, Decker doesn’t take her looks too seriously. When asked by Huffington Post on how she responded to labels such as ‘Sexiest Woman Alive’, she said: “Oh my gosh! I wish you could see what I look like on a day-to-day basis. I actually may have been Photoshopped … Honestly, I think it’s funny. When someone refers to you as that, you’re obviously very flattered, but I know that it’s fleeting and not here for a while, so it’s funny.” For those wondering, the Texan native caught tennis star Roddick’s eye when he was leafing through Sports Illustrated Swimwear Edition in 2006. Since then, there was no looking back for this couple.
Who: Jelena Ristic
WAG of: Novak Djokovic
We all know she’s incredibly attractive, but did you know that she’s a good sport as well. When her Serbian tennis superstar made fun of her in public about using an application on his phone to distort her face — making it look 200 pounds heavier, she just shrugged it off and laughed along with it. Even when he posted the picture on his twitter account, she didn’t make him pay for it. Plus, she’s intense when it comes to following his matches. A permanent fixture at Djokovic’s matches, her expressive face may give you an idea about the action unfolding on the tennis court. The two, who met through common friend, have been dating for over five years.
Who: Mirka
Wife of: Roger Federer
She’s a former WTA tennis player and she’s now his manager who tours with him. The two met in 2000 when they were both playing for Switzerland in the Sydney Olympics.
“When I met her, I had no titles and now I have 76, so look at what has happened. She comes with me everywhere and her role has been very important to me and she loves to watch me play. Now, life has changed since the birth of our daughters, but we try to make it compatible with my career. She always accompanies me when she can and I think I would have retired if she did not like to accompany me,” said Federer in an article posted in tennis.com. The split-proof couple have twins Charlene Riva and Myla Rose and are currently based in Dubai.
TOP FIVE HABS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
Who: Golfer Rory McIlroy
Boyfriend of: Caroline Wozniacki
A day after Danish tennis sensation Caroline Wozniacki met golfer McIlroy, she tweeted: “Fantastic fight! Also met Rory McIlory, who was sitting just behind me:) Really down to earth great guy:)” The pair reportedly met at the World Heavyweight title boxing match in Hamburg in 2011.
Her opinion of him hasn’t changed. Labelled by their fans as a “country club couple made in heaven”, the two have often been spotted having cozy dinners in plush restaurants and cheering each other while at play. Recently the reporters in Dubai were witness to their flirtatious verbal sparring as Wozniacki extracted a “nice christmas gift” promise from her well-heeled boyfriend.
Who: Stefan Kendal Gordy a.k.a Redfoo
Boyfriend of: Victoria Azarenka
Music and tennis may not go hand in hand. But that didn’t stand in the way of LMFAO group member Stefan Kendal Gordy a.k.a Redfoo and tennis champion Victoria Azarenka forming a tight partnership. The Party Rock Anthem hitmaker known for his wild hair and wilder music was spotted cheering for Azarenka at several events including the recent Australian Open 2013. The rap star wasn’t just a passive supporter. According to reports, Redfoo was busy sampling her on-court grunts and screams so that he could use it in his next single. As wacky as it sounds, Azarenka didn’t mind. She confirmed her contribution to his music, explaining “It’s my grunt. It’s not my vocals. I don’t take high key or low key there. It’s just natural.”
Who: Elio Pis
Boyfriend of: Venus Williams
He loves tennis and fashion and she loves men who love them. Or so you think, when you take a look at William’s rumoured squeeze Elio Pis. According to People magazine, the 32-year-old tennis star was spotted together watching matches. The Cuban hottie has also modelled in some of William’s designs from her sportswear line EleVen. The six-foot-plus hunk, who could be a perfect poster boy, has been featured in French Vogue with Brooke Shields and has modelled for Russell Simmons’s clothing line.
Who: Hockey star Alex Overchkin
Boyfriend of: Maria Kirilenko
NHL icon Alex Overchkin decided to score a goal this New Year’s Eve by proposing marriage to Russian tennis player Maria Kirilenko. They dated for more than a year before taking the leap. The 27-year-old hockey player took to twitter to announce: ““We are engaged !!!!!!! )))))))))” Known to wear his heart on his sleeves, Overchkin won us over with his giddy quote post-engagement: “It’s a good feeling. It’s not that feeling anymore where you can do whatever you want. You have a girl with a tennis racket and she can hit you.”
Who: Mark Stillitano
Boyfriend of: Ana Ivanovic
Stunning tennis player Ana Ivanovic may have sworn off love, but she seems to have found solace in the company of British-born, Monaco-based businessman Mark Stillitano. A good friend of tennis player Novak Djokovic, he fits the perfect supportive boyfriend bill and has attended several matches to cheer her from the sidelines.
