Former world No 11 Alize Cornet ready ‘for the last dance’ at French Open
Former world No 11 Alize Cornet has revealed she is ready “for the last dance” after confirming she will retire from tennis at the French Open.
Cornet revealed on Canal+ on Saturday that she would be playing at her home major one final time in 2024, having made her debut at the event as a 15-year-old in 2005.
The French star, one of the most enduring and popular characters on the WTA during her two-decade career, took to social media on Sunday to release an English-speaking video confirming the announcement.
She said: “Hi everyone. Well, you might already know what I’m about to tell you, but in one month I’m going to play my last tournament at the French Open – and then retire from professional tennis.
“Somehow it’s been really complicated to play with this thought at the back of my mind for the past few months, because even though I feel that the time is right, and I couldn’t dream of a better way to say goodbye, my heart feels heavy of leaving 19 years of my life behind me.
“But I also know that many exciting things are ahead of me, and I will be able to turn that page knowing that I gave everything to my sport from the very beginning to the very end.
“I’m proud of this, and I hope you guys will miss me a little bit. I will definitely miss you, so thank you for everything – and I’ll see you at Roland Garros for the last dance.”
For my non-french friends
The final countdown pic.twitter.com/hO2aRI8GrM— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) April 28, 2024
Cornet picked up 537 match wins during a successful career that saw her claim six WTA singles titles and reach a further nine finals, as well as helping France win the Billie Jean King Cup in 2019.
However she will be best remembered for her longevity, and her perennial giant-killing exploits.
Cornet famously beat world No 1 Serena Williams three times in 2014, most notably rallying from a set down to beat the 23-time major winner in the third round of Wimbledon.
And, eight years later, she caused another seismic shock when she beat Iga Swiatek at the same stage at SW19 – snapping the Pole’s record-breaking 37-match winning streak.
The 34-year-old progressed to the second week at all four Slams and memorably reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final at the Australian Open in 2022, beating Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep in Melbourne.
Perhaps her greatest achievement is her Grand Slam-level consistency, holding a record 68 straight appearances across the four majors.
After missing Wimbledon and the US Open in 2006, Cornet has not missed a Grand Slam tournament throughout the remainder of her career, an astonishing achievement considering the physicality of the modern game.
Other notable accomplishments include 25 career wins over top 10 players, ranging from 2008 to 2015, and winning three WTA doubles titles.