Wimbledon WAGS in Centre Court spotlight

LONDON (AFP) – While Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray slug it out for the Wimbledon title in Sunday's final, their glamourous girlfriends will also be living every moment of the struggle on Centre Centre.

Djokovic's girlfriend Jelena Ristic and Kim Sears, Andy Murray's long-term lover, have emerged as the queens of Centre Court during their partners' dramatic runs to the All England Club title clash.

With their striking looks and penchant for on-trend outfits, Ristic and Sears have attracted plenty of attention from the photographers and television cameras over the last two weeks.

Ristic and Sears wear their hearts on their sleeves and often appear to be suffering more than the players when the going gets tough on court.

Ristic, who lives with Djokovic and their pet poodle Pierre in Monte Carlo, admits it is impossible to remain detached from the action while her boyfriend is putting himself through yet another gruelling match just yards away from her.

That was clear to see when Djokovic survived the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history on Friday, defeating Juan Martin del Potro in a bruising encounter that lasted four hours and 43 minutes.

"You can get very passionate when watching your boyfriend from the players' box. We just want them to be happy. You don't want to see them in pain. If they are not happy, neither are you," Ristic told the Daily Mail.

There will be more agony and ecstasy in the players' box this weekend with the Wimbledon crown on the line.

For Djokovic it would be his second All England Club triumph, while Murray is hoping to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles' title since Fred Perry in 1936.

But Ristic, a 27-year-old swimwear model who also runs her boyfriend's charitable Novak Djokovic Foundation, insists the rivalry remains friendly because both couples get on well off court.

"I've met Kim and we speak whenever we see each other, but we are so busy so I haven't seen that much of her," Ristic said.

"Her and Andy are a really nice, pleasant couple. There is no negative energy between Novak and Andy. It is a gentleman's sport and they are both gentlemen."

Sears, 25 from Sussex in southern England, first met Scotland's Murray at a party at the US Open in 2005.

At the time, Kim was travelling with her father Nigel, who was head of the women's section of the British tennis federation.

They have recovered from a brief split to become inseparable, mostly spending their free time at Murray's mansion at Oxshott in Surrey with their dogs Maggie May and Rusty.

Sears, who paints portraits of pets for wealthy clients in London, openly wept during Murray's emotional post-match television interview in the aftermath of last year's Wimbledon final defeat against Roger Federer.

And when the final point is played on Sunday all eyes will once again be on the beaming smiles and tear-stained faces of the finalists' better halves.