In the high-stakes world of professional sports, victories are celebrated, and defeats are scrutinized. Yet, a unique camaraderie emerges among athletes. Chris Evert is now standing up for Rory McIlroy, who has finally won his first green jacket and his fifth major title after 4017 days! McIlroy, whose past relationship with ex-WTA pro Caroline Wozniacki Evert once admired, faced several turbulent years on the golf course before this victory. And Chris just can’t help but praise him!
McIlroy finally conquered his “nemesis” on Sunday, completing the elusive Career Grand Slam and becoming the first European golfer to achieve this feat. The moment was pure magic—McIlroy dropped to the ground in joy after sinking a birdie on the playoff hole against Justin Rose.
The 18-Time Grand Slam Champion took to X to celebrate his triumph, saying, “So happy for @McIlroyRory. He went through some heartbreaking moments to get here. He showed us resilience and perseverance. So well deserved, so moving to watch! Well done….” Her words captured the emotional weight of McIlroy’s journey, a testament to resilience and determination.
So happy for @McIlroyRory He went through some heartbreaking moments to get here. He showed us resilience and perseverance. So well deserved, so moving to watch! Well done…
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) April 14, 2025
The road to the green jacket was anything but smooth for McIlroy. His most painful memory came at the 2011 Masters when, at just 21 years old, he held a four-stroke lead heading into the final round. What followed was a devastating collapse on Augusta’s back nine—a triple bogey on the 10th hole after his tee shot landed near cabins, followed by bogeys and a four-putt double bogey on the 12th. He finished with an 80, one of the worst final rounds by a leader in Masters history. The heartbreak left him in tears, but instead of letting it define him, McIlroy used the experience as a learning curve that shaped his future victories.
Chris Evert knows all about overcoming adversity. Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova featured its own trials, including periods where Navratilova seemed unbeatable. For instance, Evert’s triumphant win at the 1982 French Open proved her resilience under pressure. Navratilova had been dominating their head-to-head matchups leading up to the final, creating significant doubt about Evert’s ability to regain her clay-court supremacy.
Like Evert, McIlroy learned from his setbacks and came back stronger—winning his first major after 14 years. And she’s not the only one celebrating his victory from the tennis community!
Tennis community in sync for Rory’s big win!
The sports world erupted in celebration as Rory McIlroy achieved the unthinkable—completing his Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters. Tennis stars like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Boris Becker also sent heartfelt messages. Nadal wrote, “Congratulations @McIlroyRory! You deserved to win @themasters! ” The outpouring of support from tennis stars highlights the universal respect for McIlroy’s achievement.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic shared his tributes to McIlroy’s historic win through a clip of McIlroy’s triumph on his Instagram, saying, “Congratulations to @rorymcilroy. Incredible achievement. Never stop dreaming. And huge respect to @justinprose99 for an inspiring performance.” Nole’s words carry extra weight, given his own pursuit of milestones like a 25th Grand Slam and 100th title, despite battling setbacks such as a hamstring tear and an eye infection.
Notably, Djokovic is not just a fan; he’s a skilled golfer himself. He even famously disguised himself as a waiter at a European team dinner during the Ryder Cup in Rome in 2024, serving drinks to McIlroy before the event began—a testament to his playful and adventurous spirit.
Finally, even the six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker exclaimed, “Rory finally did it!” as he shared an image of McIlroy’s winning moment. This cross-sport camaraderie shows how athletes from different disciplines come together to celebrate each other’s triumphs over adversity.
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