TennisGrandStand

People are finding it hard to ignore French teenager Alize Cornet as she storms her way through the rankings. At last year’s US Open, she fought a tough 3 setter 3rd round match against top player Jelena Jankovic, and had the Serb praising the teenager with compliments: “she kept coming up with all these amazing shots and I thought to myself ‘this is impossible, she’s a Junior.’”. Why France’s prodigal child could be just what the tennis world is looking for.
The first time I saw Alize Cornet play was a rainy day in May, when she was up against former world number one Venus Williams. I had heard brief murmurs about Alize Cornet and her performances, but, as is expected from French players at Roland Garros, I knew not to get my hopes up. And yet I was deeply impressed by her attitude. She wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion and ran down everything Venus Williams came up with. Williams eventually won in two sets, but Cornet didn’t go out without a fight.
Having exited the main draw, Cornet, 17 years old at the time, decided to take part in her last Grand Slam as a Junior. She breezed through the rounds and it was only when she got to the later stages –semi finals and finals- that she was really tested. Playing against 18-year-old Duque Marino, the French prodigal child found herself suddenly trailing by a set on ‘her’ home turf. Determined not to lose in front her crowd, Cornet stepped up a gear  at 2-1 down and showed just why many tip her as a raising star. Having easily held her serve two games before, Marino had no way of knowing it would be the last time she would hold serve for the match. Cornet won the Final 4-6 6-1 6-0 and found her name linked to another former teenage sensation, Martina Hingis (1993), current world number one Justine Henin, and familiar French hero Amelie Mauresmo.
Although Cornet lacks Mauresmo’s somewhat classic touch on the court, she makes up for it by creating her own style. She mixes flair with intensity, and watching her many are reminded of France’s other golden girl, Tatiana Golovin. Cornet is developing the ability to create a shot from a dead ball situation, allowing her to wow the crowds as she comes up with amazing angles. She is also incredibly athletic, thus allowing her to run down balls her opponent might expect her to stop chasing or to be out of reach.
But despite the numerous comparisons with other players, Cornet is still her own person. She has and incredible charisma both on and off the tenniscourts, making her an instant favorite to watch amongst fans and players alike. She is competitive on and off the court but mainly with herself, and fans can expect her to give her best in every match. Even exhausted, she will still try to run down every ball, and will try to fight until the end of the match before giving up.
If Cornet is considered France’s prodigal child, it is not without reason. Mauresmo is nearing retirement and many murmur that this could be her last season. Golovin looks set to take over from Mauresmo as Fed Cup leader, and Marion Bartoli is often surrounded by controversy. Cornet, on her part, remains friendly and approachable, and doesn’t let her talent go to her head. Talented and ambitious without the arrogance one would expect, Cornet provides a friendly face, breaking the tennis world’s stereotype of coldness and distance between fans and players.
Although Cornet hasn’t had the ideal preparation going into the Australian Open, one would be foolish to write her off too soon. She is set to clash with Daniela Hantuchova in the second round. The Slovakian is the favorite to win the match, but as Jankovic learned in the US Open, Cornet will go out to prove she can compete against the world’s elite players.

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