May the best girl win

One is a teenage tennis prodigy who has already earned over £1.5 million at tournaments around the world. The other is an expectant mother who shuns the limelight to spend quiet evenings with her husband at their suburban London home.

Today, both will have their eyes fixed on the same court at Wimbledon as they watch their loved ones fight to get in the final.

Tim Henman's wife Lucy and Lleyton Hewitt's girlfriend Kim Clijsters are familiar with the agony and ecstasy of watching their partners on court. But, apart from the same appointment in SW19 this afternoon, they could hardly be more different. Tall, tanned and athletic Kim, 19, is rarely out of her tennis whites or tracksuits, with her thick blonde hair tucked into a cap.

Lucy, 30, a willowy blonde, opts for understated elegance in neutral tones, with little jewellery and minimal make-up.

Belgian Kim and her 14-year-old sister Elke - who is also competing at Wimbledon this year - have an impeccable sporting pedigree. Mother Els was a national gymnast, while father Leo played football for his country.

Lucy is the daughter of a surgeon and was brought up with her two sisters in a large house with tennis courts in the picturesque Hampshire village of Odiham. Fifth seed Kim was one of an elite band of teenage stars who left school to compete in Grand Slam tournaments. Lucy opted for a more traditional route: private-school and social sciences at Durham University before becoming a TV producer.

Despite their different professions, the two women both met their partners through work. Kim met Hewitt, 21, two years ago while playing tennis. The two spend most of their time together at tournaments. Kim said: "It's nice to have someone you trust and who is always there for you. We live a very lonely life. We have to travel every week, so it's not easy to make a lot of friends."

Lucy met Henman when she interviewed him for a documentary six years ago. The couple guard their privacy and are expecting their first baby in October. Henman said: "She has no desire to hang around tournaments and be part of the circuit. That's not the sort of girl I want to be with."

The match, scheduled to start at noon, may face disruption after heavy overnight rain. The Met Office said:"It should clear up throughout the afternoon. There may be the odd spot later and it could cause slight disruptions."

Henman may have to make do without the cheers of fans that have spurred him through this year's tournament. The court will be filled with corporate clients and a number of lucky ballot winners. The All England club's policy is to allow 500 tickets to queuing fans for matches up until the semi-finals.