BNP Paribas Open – Players as Sports Fans – Women

Last week we revealed the pro sports teams that the best of the ATP cheer for. This week, we look at the WTA and their cheering habits.

Anyone who follows tennis or golf knows that 2011 BNP Paribas Open Champion Caroline Wozniacki is World No. 1 Golfer Rory McIlroy’s biggest fan, but did you know that Andrea Petkovic has played tennis with NBA star Dirk Nowitzki?

Check out who the world’s best female tennis players support in professional sports:

Fan: Christina McHale
Team: New York Yankees (Baseball)
Sporty Stat: The Jersey Girl loves her New York Yankees and was able to catch a playoff game this year against the Detroit Tigers. However, her presence did not help the Bronx Bombers, who lost in 12 innings that night and went on to get swept in four straight games to end their season.

Fan: Caroline Wozniakci
Team: Liverpool FC (Soccer)
Sporty Stat: The 2011 BNP Paribas Open Champion famously wore a Liverpool jersey on court in Doha for her quarterfinal match. The Dane is also an avid golf fan and is dating World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. “Wozzilroy,” as the couple is affectionately called, announced their “court”-ship with a smooch in front of the Yale football team at the 2011 New Haven Open.

See who more of your favorite WTA stars cheer for AFTER THE JUMP:

Fan: Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Team: Green Bay Packers (Football)
Sporty Stat: The vivacious American loves her Packers football and is a proud member of Cheesehead Nation. If you want detailed commentary of the NFL action on Sundays, look no further than Bethanie’s Twitter feed (@BMATTEK).

Fan: Melanie Oudin
Team: Atlanta Falcons (Football), Atlanta Braves (Baseball)
Sporty Stat: After her dream run to the US Open Quarterfinals, Marietta, Georgia native Oudin was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Atlanta Braves game. She also received a personalized Atlanta Falcons jersey to highlight her amazing accomplishments in Flushing Meadows.

Fan: Andrea Petkovic
Team: Bayern Munich (Soccer)
Sporty Stat: The vivacious German loves her Munich-based soccer team, but also supports her fellow German athletes in other sports. She has a good friendship with National Basketball Association star Dirk Nowitzki, who became the first European player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2007 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

Fan: Daniela Hantuchova
Team: A.S. Roma (Soccer), New York Rangers (Hockey)
Sporty Stat: Aside from supporting A.S. Roma and the New York Rangers, the two-time BNP Paribas Open Champion is good friends with professional golfer Sergio Garcia.

Fan: Maria Kirilenko
Team: Washington Capitals (Hockey)
Sporty Stat: Why does the Russian star love the Washington Capitals? Maria is dating the captain of the NHL team and two-time league MVP, Alex Ovechkin, who is often seen courtside at her matches.

NHL Star Alex Ovechkin watches girlfriend Maria Kirilenko in the final of the New Haven Open.

Fan: Sloane Stephens
Team: UCLA (College Football)
Sporty Stat: The red-hot rising American and Los Angeles native has extremely athletic lineage. Her mother, Sybil Smith, became the first African-American female to be named First Team All-American in Division I history at Boston University in 1988. Her father, the late John Stephens, played six seasons in the National Football League and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1988.

Honorable Mention: 2008 BNP Paribas Open champ Ana Ivanovic is partisan to the Partizan sports teams in Serbia. Rising Americans Irina Falconi and Maria Sanchez support their Alma Maters, Georgia Tech and USC. Anne Keothavong supports the Arsenal football (soccer) club, just like her countryman Andy Murray.