French WTA Legend Cuts Off From Retirement Woes As She Steps Back on Court for Monumental Return

“I have no regrets, or very few, because I’ve given you everything in the name of my love of tennis,” said Alize Cornet as she bid farewell to the sport at the 2024 Roland Garros. The French tennis veteran wrapped up a 20-year-long career after a tough first-round loss to Zheng Qinwen. It seemed like the end of her journey on the court. But just when we thought we had seen the last of her, she has decided to make a return. Let’s find out all the details of her comeback!

The Frenchwoman reached a career-high ranking of world No. 11 in 2009. Despite her impressive consistency, she found it difficult to break deep into the Grand Slams. In most of the Majors she played, she could not progress beyond the fourth round. However, she had a breakthrough at the 2022 Australian Open, where she reached the quarter-finals. The 35-year-old also holds the record for the most consecutive Grand Slam appearances in women’s tennis, playing 69 straight Majors from the 2007 Australian Open to the 2024 French Open.

Announcing her return, Cornet shared her excitement. She said, “I am extremely happy to be back playing on the courts of the Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole for what is for me a very exciting return to competition. When I started training again two months ago, I immediately had this goal in mind – to be ready for Rouen.” The Open de Rouen tournament director, Charles Roche, welcomed Cornet back by offering her a wildcard entry. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and is eager to get back into action.

Interestingly, Cornet is not the only player to have a change of heart about retirement. Former Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins had also planned to step away from the sport at the end of 2024 to focus on starting a family. However, due to her struggles with endometriosis, she reconsidered and decided to continue competing in 2025. She described her decision as “bittersweet.”

With Alize Cornet’s return, the WTA will have one more seasoned competitor back in the mix. Looking back, her career had many unforgettable moments, including one of her most famous wins—beating Serena Williams at Wimbledon.

When Alize Cornet defeated Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Alize Cornet had a remarkable run against the tennis legend, defeating Williams three times. The most memorable of those wins came at the 2014 Wimbledon, where she stunned the 23-time Grand Slam champion in a gripping three-set battle.

That match on Court One started rough for the French tennis star. Williams came out firing, taking the first set 6-1 in just 15 minutes. Then, the rain interrupted play, giving Cornet a much-needed break to regroup. When the match resumed, she turned the tide, securing a stunning 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Afterward, she credited the win to “heart and the help of the crowd.” Cornet had already beaten Williams earlier that year in Dubai, but few expected her to pull off the upset on such a grand stage. She handled the pressure and executed her game plan to perfection, shocking the tennis world.

But right after her big win, she faced a crushing defeat. In the fourth round, she lost to Eugenie Bouchard, who eventually reached the final. It was a disappointing end to what could have been an even deeper run at Wimbledon.

In 2020, Cornet reflected on that moment, calling it the highlight of her career. Speaking to Essentially Sports, the 35-year-old said, “No, definitely this match is the best memory I have from my career and I think it was ‘tennistically’ the best match I also played against this amazing champion, I mean, Serena Williams in Wimbledon. Beating her there was, yeah, was pretty much a miracle.”

Now, Alize Cornet is ready for a new chapter. Whether she can recapture her past magic remains to be seen. Are we about to witness another surprise run from the French star?

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