Home » » Courting romance: Ups and downs of tennis love affairs

Courting romance: Ups and downs of tennis love affairs

Written By JAK on Tuesday, October 22, 2013 | 8:34 AM


Speculation abounds that sport's foremost golf and tennis love match have called it quits. Double major winner Rory McIlroy and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki are staying tight lipped on their alleged break up, but when it comes to sport the path of true love rarely runs smooth. In this gallery, CNN looks at sporting couples who have aced their relationships and those who have seen their private lives hit the rough.

Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert had the world at their feet in 1974. The American lovebirds won both singles titles at Wimbledon and were engaged to be married, but by the time the grass-court grand slam came around in 1975 the wedding was off. Decades after splitting from the eight-time grand slam champion, Evert swapped the tennis court for the golf course...

Following the break up of her marriage to British tennis player John Lloyd in 1987 and a further divorce from Olympic skier Andy Mill in 2006, Evert tied the knot with Australian golf star Greg Norman in 2008. It would not be a case of third time lucky for Evert, however, as the pair separated in 2009 after an 18-month marriage.

Adam Scott followed in the footsteps of his hero Norman by sparking a golf and tennis romance of his own in 2010 with Serbia's Ana Ivanovic. The pair split in September of that year after both saw their form suffer, before unsuccessfully reuniting in 2011. Since the separation Scott has captured the first major title of his career and currently sits at No. 2 in the world rankings.

When Australian Lleyton Hewitt began a romance with fellow tennis ace Kim Clijsters in 2000, the former world No. 1's country took the Belgian to their hearts. She was dubbed "Aussie Kim" and it looked like they were set to live happily ever after with a wedding scheduled for February 2005. It was not to be and the pair split in October 2004, but Clijsters would still find her happy ending...

Now retired, Clijsters is happily married to former American basketball player Brian Lynch, with whom she has two children.

Like Clijsters, Maria Sharapova found love on the basketball court. The four-time grand slam winner got engaged to former Los Angeles Lakers star Sasha Vujacic, before ending her relationship with the Slovenian in 2012.

Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic knows more than most about the trials and tribulations of a tennis fling. He was engaged to marry former world No. 1 Martina Hingis before the two called off their nuptials in 2007. 

Undeterred, Stepanek started a second tennis fling with compatriot Nicole Vaidisova and the couple married in June 2010, but announced earlier this year they have filed for divorce. If Stepanek feels disillusioned with the idea of a tennis romance, there is one golden couple who he can take heart from...

Tennis super stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are living proof that sporting couples can go the distance. The former world No. 1s married in 2001 and have two children together. 
Share this article :

Post a Comment

 
Support : Creating Website | Johny Template | Mas Template
Copyright © 2011. New EAC Blog - All Rights Reserved
Template Created by Creating Website Published by Mas Template
Proudly powered by Blogger