The Rory McIlroy story has been told so often this summer that it might as well be written in stone. McIlroy jettisons fiancée Caroline Wozniacki, who happens to play a little tennis, then launches himself from one major golf title to the next, reclaiming past glories as he rockets to the No. 1 ranking in the world.
The Caroline Wozniacki story, on the other hand, has been told in a whisper, if at all. Only those inside tennis, it seems, have been paying attention to this fascinating plot line:
Jettisoned by McIlroy, who happens to play a little golf, Wozniacki throws herself back into the sport that once saw her rise to No. 1 in the world, wins a tournament in Istanbul the same day Rory claims the British Open, and keeps right on rolling, playing arguably the best tennis of her career to reach the semifinals at the U.S. Open, where she will face unseeded Peng Shuai on Friday.
McIlroy's freedom, it turns out, has been matched by Wozniacki's. At 25, he's clearly playing better without her. At 24, she's clearly playing better without him.
Apparently two can play this game.
"I think they both now are 100% invested and engaged in what they should be doing in their sport and with their talent," tennis legend Chris Evert said Wednesday in a telephone interview from the U.S. Open, where she's a commentator for ESPN.
McIlroy has fans everywhere, and deservedly so, because he's an appealing, engaging and polite champion. It's human nature to wonder about the breakup — a phone call from McIlroy after the wedding invitations were printed — but that's the last we'll say about that, simply because we know almost nothing about their relationship.
What happened next, though, is perfectly fit for public consumption. Evert, who has always been a fan of Wozniacki's because of her consistent, solid, Chrissie-like play, picks up the story here:
"I don't know Caroline that well personally," she said, "but I'm sure at the beginning it (the breakup) was crushing to her. But the way she bounced back and put all of that energy, anxiety and tension back into her tennis, it's reaping so many benefits for her now. She is so comfortable in her own skin. She's a different player. It's almost like it released something in her. She's playing with more fearlessness and with more boldness, and going for her shots and hitting winner serves. It's been a real transformation."
For the first time since the 2011 U.S. Open, Wozniacki has reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament. That three-year drought happens to coincide almost exactly with the length of her relationship with McIlroy, but who's counting?
"It's been a pretty up and down year for me," Wozniacki said after her quarterfinal victory, "and to be here in the semifinals of the U.S. Open once again is just an incredible feeling."
Evert certainly understands Wozniacki's world, having dated Jimmy Connors in the 1970s while both were at the top of their games. Later, when she was married to golfer Greg Norman and he was in the mix at the 2008 British Open, it was laughable to see the sports media treat Evert more as a wife than what she truly was: the far more accomplished and proven champion, with 18 career Grand Slam titles to Norman's two.
Then there was the ridiculous scene on the Jim Rome TV show in 1994, when, trying to insult then-NFL quarterback Jim Everett, Rome repeatedly called him "Chris." Everett became so angry he turned over a table. Instead, he should have thanked Rome, for no greater compliment has ever been issued to someone with such an unremarkable career.
Evert has long since accepted the obvious. "In my experience with two successful athletes in a relationship, society says you still live in the man's world."
Perhaps someday, that will change. For now, though, Wozniacki is starting to attract the attention she deserves.
"I am a big fan of hers," Evert said. "She walks around with a smile on her face. She's rebounded. She's rededicated to tennis. She's her own person, and she's doing great."
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