Caroline Wozniacki clarifies she is still in a relationship with Rory McIlroy

Former world No. 1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has reportedly told a Danish newspaper that her love with Irish golfer Rory McIlroy is still strong and that their relationship is as close as ever before. This after an Irish tabloid quoted unnamed sources as saying that the two had parted ways.

Wozniacki told Ekstra Bladet on Monday that reports of a rift in her relationship with 24-year-old McIlroy were just rumours. "I'm so tired of the rumors. They occur every time Rory and I are apart a few days or do not write on Twitter. There is nothing in it, and from now on I just think that I will keep my private life private," she was quoted as saying. "All is well and then there's not much more to say about it (the relationship). I just want to be allowed to live my life off the court without all the speculation."

It was earlier reported widely that a miffed McIlroy had told 23-year-old Wozniacki that they couldn't be a pair, leaving her 'devastated'. Some isolated reports also suggested that the reason for his anger and decision could have been due to Wozniacki posting a picture of him sleeping with his mouth open, leaving him embaressed.

The two however have always appeared to support each other during professional tournaments. Both McIlroy and Wozniacki have been seen in tennis and golf tournaments on several occasions, cheering.

Of course, when both partners are international icons, the limelight can bring in its own share of pressures as well.

Recently, former Australian cricketer Shane Warne and British actress Elizabeth Hurley too went through a rough patch. It was reported that Warne had declined to set a date for marriage despite Hurley's insistence. The private rift became a hot topic of discussion before Warne clarified that reports of a split were untrue although they were working their way through some trouble.

At 23 and 24, Wozniacki and McIlroy may be over two decades younger than Warne-Hurley but their troubles it seems - private or with unconfirmed reports - are quite similar.