Rory 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, as McIlroy dropped to the ground in joy after sinking a birdie on the playoff hole against Justin Rose. While heartwarming wishes poured in from all quarters, the American tennis legend didn’t hold back either. 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 couldn’t help but praise him!

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.

After McIlroy’s victory at the Masters in Augusta, Evert – the 18-Time Grand Slam Champion- took to X, 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.

Chris Evert knows all about overcoming adversity. Her rivalry with Martina Navratilova featured its own trials, including periods where Navratilova seemed unbeatable. However, Evert’s triumph 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. But she turned the tables.

Like Evert, McIlroy learned from his setbacks as well and came back stronger, winning his first major after 14 years. And Evert is not the only one from the tennis community celebrating the star golfer’s victory!

Apart from Chris Evert, other tennis stars also congratulate Rory McIlroy

The sports world erupted in celebration as Rory McIlroy achieved a monumental feat—completing his Career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters. Apart from Evert, the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Boris Becker also wrote heartfelt messages for the 35-year-old.

Nadal wrote, “Congratulations @McIlroyRory! You deserved to win @themasters! 🥺👏🏻” While, Novak Djokovic shared his tributes through a clip of McIlroy’s triumph on his Instagram, writing, “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 ATP singles 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. What are your thoughts on Rory McIlroy’s historic triumph?