( CNN ) -- Not content with dominating the world of golf , Rory McIlroy showed off his tennis skills at an exhibition in Madison Square Garden featuring his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki . The Dane was struggling at a set and 5-4 down to Maria Sharapova when she lightheartedly asked McIlroy , who was among the audience , for his help . The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland needed no second prompting and to the delight of the sell-out 18,000 crowd took up her offer . Addressing the tennis ball as if playing a golf shot , McIlroy tried surprise tactics on Sharapova by quickly starting a rally with a top-spin forehand . Love all : The top 15 tennis romances . It came back with a bit of interest and McIlroy had to produce a nifty backhand slice to stay in the rally . After trading a couple more gentle shots , Sharapova sent a backhand volley wide and McIlroy quickly ran back to his seat before the world number two could get her inevitable revenge . Unfortunately for fourth-ranked Wozniacki , her Russian opponent was not so generous to her and closed out a 6-3 6-4 victory . McIlroy , who went to the top of the golf rankings after his superb win at the Honda Classic on Sunday , was besieged by autograph hunters and told onlookers it was `` nice to take a little break from golf '' . He is back in action to defend his top spot in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Thursday . Meanwhile , Andy Roddick had some rare cheer in a disappointing season as he beat Roger Federer 7-5 7-6 in the other match played at the star-studded exhibition .
Rory McIlroy turns his hand to tennis at an exhibition event in New York . New golf no.1 ' wins ' match against Russian star Maria Sharapova . Sharapova beats McIlroy 's girlfriend 6 - 1 6 - 4 . Andy Roddick defeats Roger Federer 7 - 5 7 - 6 at Madison Square Garden .