Wozniacki on life after Rory: 'I don't want to have my name stuck with him forever'
The recent broken engagement of sports power couple Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy, known to fans as Wozilroy, was a huge event that sent ripples through the golf and tennis worlds. But the former No. 1 player is hoping it won't be the defining event of her career.
"I don't want to have my name stuck with him forever," the Danish tennis player told the New York Times. "I'm my own person. I have my own career."
Not to say that the May breakup, which occurred just days after sending out wedding invitations, did not sting.
"When it comes out of the blue," Wozniacki was reported as saying, "that's like a shock. It's like someone dies right in front of you. ... You start thinking what was wrong? What went wrong?"
But rather than hide out somewhere to lick her wounds, Wozniacki emerged more focused on her game than ever, winning the Istanbul Cup and moving up in the world ranks from No. 14 to No. 11 since the separation. Up next on her slate are next week's US Open and the NYC Marathon in November. (McIlroy has also found success, skyrocketing to star status with wins at the British Open and PGA Championships and teeing off with Jimmy Fallon on late night shows.)
Wozniacki revealed to the NYT that she and McIlroy haven't talked since Rory broke up with her over the phone ("No, not really, no"). She's also given up anything relating to the PGA Tour altogether. "I don't follow his life and I don't really follow golf anymore." she said.
However Serena Williams (with whom Wozniacki partied with after early French Open exits) credits her close pal for not speaking ill about McIlroy during this emotionally fraught time.
"She said, 'I could never hate him. He's been a big part of my life and even if I wanted to, I couldn't hate him,' " Williams told the NYT. "I was really influenced by that."
In the NYT profile, the 24-year-old comes across as level-headed and confident in who she is.
"I don't believe in holding onto someone who doesn't want to be with you," she told the NYT. "I definitely want someone who just wants you for who you are. I'm very upfront, I'm very honest and I'm very straightforward and I think some people get intimidated by that. I'm not saying Rory did . . . [pause] In general, a lot of people do, and if I'm in a relationship that's strong, I'm the person I am and that's exactly what you get."
Ultimately, though, Wozniacki, who says she's "happy being single right now," is more than ready to move on. Here she is getting the final word:
"It's important in relationships to talk," she said. "If there's a problem, you talk about it. That's normal. Obviously, I didn't have that chance. At the end of the day, I couldn't have done anything different. I couldn't have done anything more. I gave everything I had. And if that's not enough, that's fine. I'll find someone who will."
