Alize Cornet news: ‘It’s just magic,’ says Frenchwoman after stunning win over ‘fighter’ Simona Halep

Shahida Jacobs
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Alize Cornet celebrates after winning a match

Alize Cornet is a quarter-finalist in the singles of a Grand Slam at the 63rd of asking after the Frenchman secured a dramatic win over Simaon Halep in the fourth round at the Australian Open.

Since 2005, Cornet had reached the fourth round of a major only five times before this year’s hard-court Grand Slam.

But she has gone at least one better at Melbourne Park after a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset victory over two-time Grand Slam winner Halep in two hours and 43 minutes in hot and humid conditions on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

Both players struggled on serve with five breaks of serve in the opening set with Cornet edging it 3-2 while the roles were reversed in the second set as Halep won the break of serve battle 4-2.

By contrast, the deciding set had only one break of serve and the crucial game turned out to be game seven. After missing two match point opportunities in game nine, the 32-year-old wrapped things up at the third time of asking in the following game.

“It feels amazing,” Cornet said after the match.”It was a battle with Simona today in this heat after 30 minutes of the game we were both dying on the court. We kept going for two and a half hours with all our heart.

“Congrats to Simona because I know she struggled a lot and I admire this player so much. She’s such a fighter and an example to me. To beat her today to go to my first quarter-final is a dream come true. I don’t know what to say. It’s just magic.

“It’s never too late to try again.”

Up next is Danielle Collins from the United States after the 27th seed secured a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over 19th seed Elise Mertens in just under three hours.

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