French Open: Caroline Wozniacki Beaten on Court After Losing in Love

Heartbroken Caroline Wozniacki suffered a morale-sapping defeat at the French Open on Tuesday in her first appearance since the break-up of her romance with star golfer Rory McIlroy.

The 23-year-old Dane's three-year relationship with the Northern Irishman ended last week after McIlroy got cold feet over their future while sending out wedding invitations.

The break-up did not have an immediate impact on his form as he swept to victory at the European Tour's PGA Championship at Wentworth at the weekend.

But it was a different story for former world number one Wozniacki who slipped to a 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2 defeat to Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer on a chilly Court Two.

It was 13th-seeded Wozniacki's earliest defeat in Paris since her debut in 2007.

McIlroy and Wozniacki met nearly three years ago in Munich at a boxing match between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko. (Also read: Wozniacki parties with 'bridesmaid' Serena)

In the aftermath of her split with McIlroy, Wozniacki found support on the tour.

"@CaroWozniacki I'll always walk with you. #friendsforever," wrote world number one Serena Williams on Twitter.

That was in reply to Wozniacki's tweet which said: "It's a hard time for me right now. Thanks for all the sweet messages! Happy I support Liverpool right now because I know I'll never walk alone."

Williams said she felt for Wozniacki. "I would rather lose any day than break up. It's always hard," said the American.

"It's definitely easier to take a loss because you always have next week. But at the end of the day when you really are young, you always have next year and you have the rest of your life."

Williams has been linked romantically with her French coach Patrick Mouratoglou.