Love match. Rory helps Caroline at MSG tennis exhibition against Maria Sharapova
March 6, 2012 -- Updated 2327 GMT (0727 HKT)
Love match. Caroline Wozniacki welcomes her boyfriend Rory McIlroy onto the court at Madison Square Garden.
Wrong sport Rory ! McIlroy addresses a tennis ball golf style with Maria Sharapova at the other end.
Golf ace Rory McIlroy shows he is a dab hand at tennis with a backhand return against Maria Sharapova.
Rory and Caroline doubles act
Rory prepares to tee off against Sharapova
Rory dazzles with his tennis skills
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Rory McIlroy turns his hand to tennis at an exhibition event in New York
- New golf no.1 'wins' rally against Russian superstar Maria Sharapova
- Sharapova beats McIlroy's girlfriend 6-3 6-4
- Andy Roddick beats Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 at Madison Square Garden
(CNN) -- Not content with dominating the world of golf, Rory McIlroy showed off his tennis skills at an exhibition in Madison Square Garden featuring his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.
The Dane was struggling at a set and 5-4 down to Maria Sharapova when she lightheartedly asked McIlroy, who was among the audience, for his help.
The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland needed no second prompting and to the delight of the sell-out 18,000 crowd took up her offer.
Addressing the tennis ball as if playing a golf shot, McIlroy tried surprise tactics on Sharapova by quickly starting a rally with a top-spin forehand.
Love all: The top 15 tennis romances
It came back with a bit of interest and McIlroy had to produce a nifty backhand slice to stay in the rally.
After trading a couple more gentle shots, Sharapova sent a backhand volley wide and McIlroy quickly ran back to his seat before the world number two could get her inevitable revenge.
Unfortunately for fourth-ranked Wozniacki, her Russian opponent was not so generous to her and closed out a 6-3 6-4 victory.
McIlroy, who went to the top of the golf rankings after his superb win at the Honda Classic on Sunday, was besieged by autograph hunters and told onlookers it was "nice to take a little break from golf".
He is back in action to defend his top spot in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Thursday.
Meanwhile, Andy Roddick had some rare cheer in a disappointing season as he beat Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 in the other match played at the star-studded exhibition.
Part of complete coverage on
April 16, 2013 -- Updated 1615 GMT (0015 HKT)
Masters champion Adam Scott not only has to contend with national hero status at home but also the role of golf's latest sex symbol.
April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1118 GMT (1918 HKT)
Discover why golf's old school establishment fears a new breed of players creating new popularity with their online antics.
April 11, 2013 -- Updated 1854 GMT (0254 HKT)
Following the web's reaction to Adam Scott's dramtic triumph at the 2013 Masters.
April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1408 GMT (2208 HKT)
It's not just golf that makes Augusta so special -- there's also James Brown, cheese pimiento sandwiches, turkeys and ghosts.
March 26, 2013 -- Updated 1300 GMT (2100 HKT)
As a swimmer, his countless hours of training paid off handsomely. As a golfer, Michael Phelps is wondering what he got himself into.
April 1, 2013 -- Updated 1306 GMT (2106 HKT)
American D.A. Points celebrates his win at the Houston Open by joining in the "Dufnering" craze that has gripped golf recently.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1340 GMT (2140 HKT)
Ernie Els' coach Claude Harmon and former world No.1 Martin Kaymer tell Living Golf that anchored putting is dividing the sport.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1349 GMT (2149 HKT)
Matteo Manassero, the youngest player to qualify for the Masters, reflects on his career and the boy who will break one of his records.
March 7, 2013 -- Updated 1334 GMT (2134 HKT)
Living Golf meets Thorbjorn Olesen as the rising star of European golf prepares for the most important tournaments of his career.
March 13, 2013 -- Updated 1925 GMT (0325 HKT)
Martin Kaymer reflects on his performance at the 39th Ryder Cup, when he sunk the winning putt against the United States.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1501 GMT (2301 HKT)
CNN's Shane O'Donoghue asks how much Rory McIlroy's new multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal is really worth.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1748 GMT (0148 HKT)
Living Golf meets Paul McGinley, who talks about becoming Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.
February 18, 2013 -- Updated 1149 GMT (1949 HKT)
Paul McGinley's former captain, Sam Torrance, shares some advice for the pro golfer turned new Ryder Cup captain.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1516 GMT (2316 HKT)
Don Riddell explores whether Tuscany can follow up on Italy's successes on the European Tour and develop golf tourism.
February 7, 2013 -- Updated 1512 GMT (2312 HKT)
2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer shares his favorite shots with CNN's Shane O'Donoghue.
February 5, 2013 -- Updated 1840 GMT (0240 HKT)
Two men with lofty ambitions in a midwestern town of the United States have finally realized their dream after months of endeavor.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1213 GMT (2013 HKT)
Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue explores the changing role of black players in South African golf.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1307 GMT (2107 HKT)
Shane O'Donoghue meets South Africa's Branden Grace, the outstanding breakout player from the 2012 European season.
January 3, 2013 -- Updated 1214 GMT (2014 HKT)
Shane O'Donoghue meets Dr. Sherylle Calder, the woman who taught reigning British Open champion Ernie Els how to putt again.
December 22, 2012 -- Updated 1439 GMT (2239 HKT)
It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and the Great Wall of China for a hazard.
Today's five most popular stories
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|