Caroline Wozniacki has broken her silence following the news that she and Rory McIlroy have called off their engagement. The 23-year-old tennis ace thanked her 613,000 Twitter followers for their support, and admitted: "It's a hard time for me right now. "She added: "Thanks for all the sweet messages! Happy I support Liverpool right now because I know I'll never walk alone."
Caroline also deleted the word "fiancée" from her Twitter description, so that it read: "Daughter, sister, tennis player. Mother to our dog Bruno." The athletic beauty and Rory parted ways after three years together because the groom-to-be was not ready for marriage. The Northern Irish golfer released a statement on Wednesday announcing the end of their engagement.
"There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people," said the 25-year-old sportsman. "The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails.
"I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting."
Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki
Two-time major champion Rory, who won the US Open in 2011 and US PGA Championship the following year, proposed on New Year's Eve. He presented caroline with a cushion-cut diamond ring, which is estimated to have cost the golfer in excess of £125,000. Shortly after the proposal, Caroline showed off the stunner in a photo uploaded on Twitter. It is not yet known what Caroline will do with the ring, but Rory has reportedly indicated that he wants his ex-fiancée to keep the piece of jewellery. "They were together nearly three years and that time meant a lot to him so he would like to see her keep the ring," an insider told The Independent.
Caroline Wozniacki announced her engagement on Twitter
Whether Caroline chooses to sell the ring is not yet known, but other celebrities in the past have taken that step. Demi Moore made no secret that she sold hers for £250,000 after her split from ex-husband Ashton Kutcher. "Almost half of marriages in the UK now end in divorce," said diamond expert Vashi Dominguez on ITV's This Morning. "What to do with your old rings is an issue facing millions of women. But the most popular option is to sell the ring and buy some further jewellery in its place." A survey conducted by Vashi found that out of 1,000 women, more than a third who had split from their husbands ended up selling their engagement rings, which typically increase in value by 5 per cent each year they are owned. Other options included re-designing the piece of jewellery or keeping it.