It’s a huge blow that Alizé Cornet achieved on Saturday, July 2, during the third round of the Wimbledon tournament. The Frenchwoman eliminated the world number 1, Iga Swiatek, in two sets (6-4, 6-2), also ending the series of 37 consecutive victories of the Pole.
“I don’t have the words… It reminds me of my victory against Serena [Williams] eight years ago on this same short number one which brings me luck »commented the Frenchwoman after the meeting. “I knew I could do it. ‘Cause if there was ever a time to beat her, I knew it was on grass.”, added Alizé Cornet, who had reached the round of 16 of the London tournament in 2014 by beating Serena Williams. But since then she hadn’t made it past the third round.
Iga Swiatek had not lost a match since his second round elimination in Dubai in February. She had won the six tournaments she had played since: Doha, Indian Wells and Miami on hard courts, Stuttgart, Rome and Roland-Garros on clay.
For its part, the Niçoise (37e world player), aged 32, will face Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (44e world player), who beat the Czech Barbora Krejcikova.
She joins two other French women, also qualified for the round of 16: Caroline Garcia, who will be opposed to the Czech Marie Bouzkova, and Harmony Tan, who will play against the American Amanda Anisimova. A performance that French tenniswomen had not reached since 2005 on English grass.