Two years ago at Roland Garros, when Alizé Cornet was asked about her perpetually-expanding streak of consecutive Grand Slam main draws played, the Frenchwoman spoke with reverence for her own longevity, but also a hint of foreboding.
“It’s a miracle that the streak is going on for 55 times,” she said at the time, eight majors ago. “I cannot believe it. I feel kind of old with this record, but at the same time I don't know if I see myself playing two more years, so I cannot tell you if I might break the record. We'll see. I just try to enjoy every slam like it was the last.”
Then 30, Cornet was already an undisputed warrior of the sport, but having toiled in the treachery of the women’s tour since she was 16, she was already beginning to contemplate life after tennis. Would she hang around long enough to break the all-time women's record for consecutive Grand Slams played, 62—set by Japan’s Ai Sugiyama?
Two years later, we know the answer: Cornet has officially been christened the WTA's iron woman.
On Tuesday night at Flushing Meadows, the 40th-ranked Niçoise cracked a milestone more than a decade in the making: competing in her 63rd consecutive Grand Slam main draw to stand alone on the WTA’s all-time list. To boot: She defeated defending US Open winner Emma Raducanu.
“It’s amazing for me to celebrate this record by winning in Armstrong, in the night session against the defending champ," Cornet said after her triumph. "I mean, it's like the stars are aligned, you know? It's such a special moment for me."
The Frenchwoman has played in the main draw of every Grand Slam since the 2007 Australian Open, but her star turn has been truly next level this year. Cornet reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open in January, also the record for the most majors played before cracking the last eight.
The party was just getting started.
With her 6-3, 6-3 takedown of Raducanu, the colorful Cornet has now knocked off a former Grand Slam champion in each of her four appearances at the majors in 2022. At Wimbledon, where she reached Round 4, she ground Iga Swiatek's 37-match winning streak to a halt, notching her fourth career win over a reigning world No. 1. In Australia, it was Simona Halep, and at home in France, Jelena Ostapenko.
A grinding baseliner with delicate touch and a flair for the dramatic, Cornet has always had a knack for engineering eye-catching upsets. The one-time No. 11 has earned more than 50 victories over Top 20 players in her career, but in 2022, she appears to be better than ever.
Contemplating the end of her career has been a boon for the veteran, allowing her to play free and embrace the moment.
“Since the beginning of the year, I knew that this could be my last season,” she told USOpen.org after beating Raducanu. “I was telling myself ‘Okay, you don't know how long you're going to play. So just enjoy it.’ Enjoy being on the big courts, playing amazing champions. Just take it all in and enjoy the moment and be present. That's why it made me play my best tennis, so I just stay in the state of mind for this tournament.”
Cornet, who will face Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic for a spot in the third round on Day 4, doesn’t know exactly when she’ll end her career, but she plans to ride into the sunset in style no matter when it happens.
“I know it can be my last US Open,” she said. “Maybe not. I leave the door open, but at least I'm telling myself that I want to enjoy the ride. That's all I want. Win or lose but just to give my all on the court and be happy.”
Read on for more of our conversation with Cornet:
USOpen.org: I've talked to you for several years about this record, the most consecutive Grand Slam main draws played. It’s remarkable. It was remarkable two years ago when it was 55, and even more so today, so is that part of your happiness about what's going on here in New York?
Alizé Cornet: Of course it’s part of it. I've been waiting for this record to be broken for a little while now. I've thought about it since January, and I knew it would happen if I would stay healthy, which was not a, I mean, it didn't have to be so obvious. It's not easy to stay healthy a whole season, but I was lucky enough to be, and to break this record here, and I couldn't dream about a better way to celebrate. Winning this first round, on the Armstrong, in a night session, against Emma. I mean, it's pretty cool.
USOpen.org: You've had a history of pretty cool wins. I mean, all the way back to beating No. 1 Serena at Wimbledon [in 2014]. You did it against Iga just two months ago at Wimbledon, so what is it about you that you can pull out these amazing wins?
Alizé Cornet: I don't know. It's just maybe that I just like this kind of rendez-vous. I like it. I like to be on the court and have nothing to lose in a way and being the surprise out there. That's where I play my best tennis, maybe having less pressure, less expectations and enjoying the big stadiums, the atmosphere.
I guess it just brings the best out of me. That's the only thing I can think of right now. But definitely this year, the stat is pretty crazy that I have beaten a former Grand Slam champion every Slam. That's great. It's pretty amazing.
USOpen.org: Your energy was great. It just seemed like you were just made to play that match well and never had a doubt that you were going to win against Emma.
Alizé Cornet: I knew that I knew the energy would be the key tonight because I knew that I had to show her that it would be a fight, that she would have to work hard to beat me. I was putting a lot of energy—that's why I was also tired in the second set—because it was very intense and very humid.
I guess that's the way I'm playing. I'm just always very energetic. I'm always giving my best. In a Slam or on a [WTA] 250, it's the same energy I'm trying to put on the court. I guess it also shows that my consistency is also thanks to this energy that I can keep the whole year, trying to at least.
USOpen.org: We spoke via Zoom two years ago, you said you didn't know if you'd make it to this record, that you'd even play that long. I found it surprising. You are young, but you pointed out that you’ve been on tour since you're 16. I mean, this streak started in 2007. So is that something that's maybe helping you? That you can see the end of your career?
Alizé Cornet: Yeah, it could be. Since the beginning of the year, I knew that this could be my last season. My last season or my last two seasons, but that it would probably be stopping soon, let's say. I was telling myself, ‘Okay, you don't know how long you're going to play. So just enjoy it.’ Enjoy being on the big courts, playing amazing champions. Just take it all in and enjoy the moment and be present. That's why it made me play my best tennis, so I just stay in the state of mind for this tournament.
I know it can be my last US Open. Maybe not. I leave the door open, but at least I'm telling myself that I want to enjoy the ride. That's all I want. Win or lose, but just to give my all on the court and be happy.
