Alize Cornet, a former WTA champion and a remarkable figure in French tennis, has announced her surprising return to the game. This comes nearly a year after her retirement following a first-round defeat to Zheng Qinwen in the French Open. The 35-year-old’s retirement decision last May marked the end of her impressive 20-year career, during which she bagged six WTA titles and earned over £8 million in prize money.
Cornet’s career pinnacle came in 2009, when she reached the 11th spot in global tennis rankings. However, her journey in Grand Slam tournaments was riddled with challenges, having advanced past the fourth round only once. That moment of glory came in the 2022 Australian Open, where she made it to the quarterfinals only to lose to Danielle Collins, the eventual runner-up, in straight sets.
The French tennis star expressed her excitement about her comeback, stating that her return to the Open de Rouen next month marked a thrilling return to competition. She shared that she had been training for the past two months with her sights set on this tournament.
In light of her return, Cornet extended her gratitude towards Charles Roche, the Open de Rouen’s tournament director, for offering her a wildcard entry into the tournament. She joked about her unexpected return, stating, “You thought you had gotten rid of me, but you haven’t quite got rid of me yet. So see you soon to vibrate again all together.”
In response, Roche expressed his delight at Cornet’s return, praising her as “one of the greatest champions of French tennis,” and voicing his confidence in her competitive spirit.
Interestingly, Cornet’s return to tennis comes alongside her commitment to appear in the French version of The Traitors. Her career has also been marked by controversy, notably during the 2018 US Open when she was penalized for changing her top on the court during a match against Johanna Larsson. This incident led to widespread discussions about sexism in the sport, with many arguing that Cornet had been treated unjustly.
Regardless of the controversy, her return is sure to make waves in the tennis world, and fans eagerly await her performance in the upcoming Open de Rouen.