Ristic cheers on Djokovic in Wimbledon in 2007 (Getty)
Ristic cheers on Djokovic in Wimbledon in 2007 (Getty)

Tomorrow Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will go head to head in the French Open final in a battle for the world's number 1 slot.

They will be cheered from the stands by their girlfriends, Jelena Ristic and Maria Perello, with Nadal seeking to claim his ninth French open, and Djokovic his first grand slam of 2014.

Rafael Nadal's mother Ana Maria Parera (L) and girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello, 'Xisca' and sister Maria Isabel Nadal smile during the men's single final between Spanish player Rafael Nadal and Serbian player Novak Djokovic at the Wimbledon Tennis
Rafael Nadal's mother Ana Maria Parera (L) and girlfriend Maria Francisca Perello, 'Xisca' and sister Maria Isabel Nadal smile during the men's single final between Rafael Nadal and Djokovic at the Wimbledon.

Both girlfriends must now be aware of how hard fought contests between the pair can be, after 42 competitive matches between them.

Below, IBTimes UK profiles the girlfriends of two of tennis's biggest stars.

Jelena Ristic (C), fiancee of Novak Djokovic of Serbia, cheers during the final match of the Paris Masters men's singles tennis tournament between Djokovic and David Ferrer of Spain at the Palais Omnisports of Bercy in Paris
Jelena Ristic (C), fiancee of Novak Djokovic of Serbia, cheers during the final match of the Paris Masters men's singles tennis tournament between Djokovic and David Ferrer of Spain at the Palais Omnisports of Bercy in Paris

Ristic and Djokovic are high school sweethearts, with Ristic's mother describing their first encounter almost nine years ago as "love at first sight".

The couple will marry later this year, and in April announced on Twitter that they are expecting their first child.

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Ristic is the director of the Novak Djokovic foundation, a charity founded by the couple to help underprivileged children in their native Serbia.

She has a degree in business administration studies from Bocconi University in Milan, and in 2011 was awarded a masters in Monaco.

For the last three years, according to her LinkedIn page, she has worked as a digital marketing, branding, and communications consultant, and has also modelled swimwear.

The couple attend a New York fundraiser for the Novak Djokovic Foundation. (Getty)
The couple attend a New York fundraiser for the Novak Djokovic Foundation. (Getty)

Rafael Nadal and Maria Francisca Perello, known by her nickname "Xisca", have also been dating for eight years, after meeting while growing up on the island of Palma de Majorca.

There are similarities between Ristic and Perello, with both having studied business administration before working for charities.

Perello studied for her degree in London, and two years ago became director of social integration at the Rafael Nadal Foundation, which provides education and support for disadvantaged youths.

Ndal and Perello attend charity function in Madrid last year. (getty)
Ndal and Perello attend charity function in Madrid last year. (getty)

However, unlike Ristic, who can regularly be seen cheering her fiancé on from the stands, Perello avoids the spotlight , and rarely attends Nadal's matches so not as to distract him.

"Raf and Xisca are both very shy and ordinary people who like to live simply. They are not at all interested in a celebrity lifestyle. They get together when the tournaments are over. That's how Raf winds down," a source close to the couple recently told an interviewer.

Maria Francisca Perello attends a French tennis Open third round match of her boyfriend Rafael Nadal at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris in May.
Maria Francisca Perello attends a French tennis Open third round match of her boyfriend Rafael Nadal at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris in May.