Isner's Wag watches his every move

Madison McKinley, girlfriend of US player John Isner, courtside at the Heineken Open yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker

She may be a fully fledged Wag, but Madison McKinley wasn't there to make the courtside look pretty.

The partner of John Isner was fully involved as she watched him beat Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko on day three of the Heineken Open.

The 21-year-old New York fashion student is part of a small group of wives and girlfriends (Wags) at the Heineken Open at Parnell's ASB Tennis Arena.

She clenched her fists, buried her face in her hands, shifted up and down on her seat and clapped for Isner, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

"I get really nervous, usually when he has been hurt," Miss McKinley told the Herald."But he can only try his best, and if he doesn't get there, it wasn't his day."

It was no wonder she was nervous - two big names, Greek-Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis and No2 seed two Tommy Haas of Germany, were knocked out of the competition earlier in the day.

Miss McKinley sat front row in Isner's designated players' box with his coach and chiropractor.

It was her first trip to New Zealand and the couple, who are staying at The Heritage, have dined at Simon Gault's Euro and taken a sailboat tour around the harbour.

She tours with Isner when not studying and has become close to many other WAGs, including Andy Roddick's wife, Swimsuit Illustrated model Brooklyn Decker.

South African Kevin Andersen's American wife, Kelsey, also sat courtside as the fourth seed played Steve Johnson.

New Zealand player Artem Sitak's artist wife Anya accompanied him earlier in the week before his loss to America's Donald Young. And doubles player Lukas Dlouhy's partner is expected to support him when he plays in the quarter-finals today.