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France’s second-best WTA ranked player Alize Cornet got eliminated 6-4 6-3 from the French Open in the first round by Viktoria Kuzmova. The 29-years-old had pulled out of the Strasbourg tournament last week, wanting to recover from an adductor pain before Roland Garros.
“I didn't have any problem in this respect during the match,” said Cornet about her physical issue. “I could play without any fear or without being bothered, but then it's during the preparation of Roland Garros I was not able to do exactly what I wanted.
So I could have been a bit more ready today, but I don't think that in the end, it would have changed the result of the match. I would have liked to have a few days of practice more, to be more ready, because I only played points over the last two days, so it was a bit short.
She [Kuzmova] played very well, so it doesn't diminish her performance. So it's difficult to say”. This participation marked the Frenchwoman’s 50th Grand Slam in a row, but she explained that this number is not as bright as it seems, “I have so many critics on the networks, social networks, and people are so mean.
50th Grand Slam in a row and never a quarterfinal, which is ridiculous, because I do my best. I do what I can. So I don't want to talk about that, actually. It's cool, but I have the impression that it's more a source of hatred rather than something else”.
The World No. 48 had the chance to play on the brand new Simonne Mathieu court, which has left a positive impression on her opinion, “With respect to the court, I really loved this moment on the court. The audience was fantastic.
I did my best. I gave everything. The court is very pleasant. I think it will suddenly become my favourite court in Roland. It's a pity I started my adventure with a defeat on this court, but hopefully, I will have the occasion of playing again, and they did beautiful work with this incredible court”.
Cornet’s fellow French player Diane Parry conquered on Monday her first victory in Roland Garros, at the age of sixteen, which places her right after Cornet herself in the ranking of youngest to have achieved this feat—the Nice native registered her first home Grand Slam win in 2005, at the age of 15.
When asked for a piece of advice for the young Parry, the six-time WTA titleholder simply answered, “I didn't know she had won. Fantastic for her. It's great. It's amazing. The path is long. She has to carry on. She knows what she has to do.
She has great coaches. We both have different trajectories. We have to try to flourish as best as we can in our profession. It's nice to have an early French player. After Fiona Ferro, it's good to see new heads coming on the circuit."