Tennis brings out nerves in Wozniacki’s beau

 

Originally published on: 07/03/12 10:44

Golfer Rory McIlroy has been pretty active on the tennis scene since joining forces with Caroline Wozniacki, but that doesn’t mean the new world No.1 is anywhere near as accomplished with racket in hand as he is with his clubs.

The Irishman was handed a bat and ball by his Danish girlfriend during an exhibition event at Madison Square Garden on Monday night and admitted he was besieged by nerves before ‘winning a point’ against Maria Sharapova.

“I’ve never been so nervous in my life,” said McIlroy. “I can hit a golf shot in front of a million people but getting up there, I wanted to hit a serve but I was thinking “If I frame this into the crowd it’s going to look so bad.’

“So [I hit] just a little under-arm over the net. Maria was nice. She hit it back to me at quite a gentle pace.”

Sharapova then delighted the crowd when she returned McIlroy’s backhand wide to hand the golfer the point.

The Russian may not have been able to get the better of the golfer, but she did go on to master his girlfriend 6-3 6-4 in the exhibition event.

McIlroy later admitted he felt compelled to join Wozniacki on court ahead of her friendly bout with Sharapova.

“Maria had got someone from the crowd to dance with and then Caroline turned to the crowd and said, ‘Any hot guys that want to dance with me?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t want anyone else dancing with you,’ so I put my hand up.

“Thank God she didn’t ask me to dance. I was much happier hitting a tennis shot.”

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