Back in competition after a month of vacation, Alizé Cornet was up against her compatriot Jessika Ponchet.
After deciding to skip the Asian tour to stay true to her convictions following the Peng Shuai case, from which news remains scarce, Alizé Cornet made her return in Rouen. This break was also a relief for her stubborn knee, injured in the middle of summer at Wimbledon. The only downside is her ranking, which has plummeted. The Nice native has dropped from 60th in the world to 120th today. She will need to work hard at challenger events to re-enter the top 100 and the main draws of major tournaments.
Facing the Bayonne native Jessika Ponchet (27 years old, ranked 151st in the world), the task was not going to be easy. The start of the match was choppy. Alizé Cornet made many errors, like on the first break when the player from the French Riviera missed a smash. Aggressive when she was up against the wall, Cornet chased after the score in the first set until the end of the set. Finally, the player from the Maritime Alps managed to find a breakthrough after saving six more break points (7-5).
Alizé Cornet on an Alternating Current
Caught off guard in the second set by her opponent, Alizé Cornet began to falter. The break she conceded at the start of the set took a toll on her morale. On the other side, Jessika Ponchet fine-tuned her forehand and her one-handed backhand, which is atypical on the women’s circuit. The second set logically went to the Bayonne native, who revived the match (6-3).
It’s almost like a ritual for Alizé Cornet, who is used to lengthy matches. This first round in Rouen was no exception as the match lasted 2 hours and 39 minutes. Over the duration, the Nice native often makes the difference. Although both players exchanged blow for blow, Ponchet seemed to struggle more. She even ended up breaking down towards the end of the match. An advantage for Alizé Cornet, who sealed the victory on her opponent’s serve (7-6 / 3-6 / 6-4).
In the second round, she will face the Hungarian Dalma Galfi. An opponent within her reach in a match that promises to last.
