Alizé Cornet, French tennis player
Alizé Cornet: A Resilient French Tennis Star and Grand Slam Veteran
Alizé Cornet (French pronunciation: [alize kɔʁnɛ]), born on 22 January 1990, is a highly accomplished French professional tennis player renowned for her tenacious baseline play and remarkable consistency on the WTA Tour. Throughout her distinguished career, Cornet has demonstrated significant prowess across various surfaces and formats, solidifying her position as one of France's leading tennis talents.
Key Career Milestones and Achievements
- Professional Titles: Cornet has garnered a total of nine singles and six doubles titles across her career. This includes six singles titles and three doubles titles on the prestigious WTA Tour, showcasing her versatility and ability to compete at the highest level. Additionally, she has secured three singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Circuit, laying a strong foundation for her professional success.
- Career-High Ranking: A significant highlight of her career came on 16 February 2009, when she reached her career-high WTA singles ranking of world No. 11. This achievement placed her among the elite players in women's tennis globally, reflecting her consistent performance and rising prominence at the time.
- Grand Slam Consistency: Alizé Cornet has consistently reached the second week at each of the four Grand Slam events, a testament to her enduring presence and competitive spirit at the sport's most prestigious tournaments. Her notable deep runs include reaching the quarterfinals at the 2022 Australian Open, which marked her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal after many years on tour, a significant career breakthrough. She has also advanced to the fourth round at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, the 2015 and 2017 French Opens, and the 2020 US Open.
- Remarkable Grand Slam Appearance Records: Demonstrating incredible durability and commitment to the tour, Cornet holds an impressive record of 60 consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearances. This places her third on the all-time list, a truly exceptional feat that underscores her longevity and resilience in the demanding world of professional tennis. Furthermore, she is tied with Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama in tenth place for overall Grand Slam main draw appearances, with a remarkable total of 63.
- National Recognition: Currently, Alizé Cornet holds the distinction of being the No. 1 French singles tennis player, a reflection of her continued high-level performance and leadership within French tennis.
Notable Rivalries and Memorable Victories
The year 2014 stands out in Alizé Cornet's career for her remarkable ability to defeat the then-dominant world No. 1, Serena Williams, widely considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Cornet achieved this feat on three separate occasions:
- Dubai Championships: At the Dubai Championships, Cornet recorded an emphatic straight-sets victory over Williams in the semifinals. This pivotal win led Cornet to her biggest singles final in almost six years, underscoring her potential to challenge the very best.
- Wimbledon Championships: In a display of remarkable resilience, Cornet came back from a set down to orchestrate a stunning upset over Williams in the third round of the Wimbledon Championships. This rare defeat marked Williams's earliest exit from Wimbledon since 2005, highlighting the magnitude of Cornet's achievement on the grass courts of SW19.
- Wuhan Open: Her third victory against Williams that year occurred in the second round of the Wuhan Open. Cornet was in a strong position before Williams retired due to illness, completing a memorable hat-trick of wins against the top-ranked player in a single season and cementing Cornet's reputation as a formidable opponent for any player on tour.
Early Promise: Alizé Cornet's Junior Career
Alizé Cornet's promising trajectory was evident early in her career, marked by an impressive junior record that laid the groundwork for her professional success. She achieved a career-high combined junior ranking of world No. 8 on 11 June 2007, signalling her potential as a future star. The pinnacle of her junior career was winning her sole Grand Slam junior singles title at the 2007 French Open, a prestigious victory on home soil that foreshadowed her significant accomplishments in professional tennis.
FAQ on Alizé Cornet
- What is Alizé Cornet's highest WTA singles ranking?
- Alizé Cornet achieved her career-high WTA singles ranking of world No. 11 on 16 February 2009.
- How many WTA titles has Alizé Cornet won?
- Alizé Cornet has won six singles titles and three doubles titles on the WTA Tour.
- What is Alizé Cornet's most significant Grand Slam achievement?
- Her most significant Grand Slam achievement to date is reaching the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open, which marked her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance.
- Who did Alizé Cornet famously defeat multiple times in 2014?
- In 2014, Alizé Cornet famously defeated the then-world No. 1, Serena Williams, on three separate occasions across various tournaments.
- What is Alizé Cornet's record for consecutive Grand Slam appearances?
- Alizé Cornet holds an impressive record of 60 consecutive Grand Slam main draw appearances, placing her third on the all-time list for this remarkable feat.