AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 24, 2022

Alize Cornet

Press Conference

A. CORNET/S. Halep

6-4, 3-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on making it through to the quarterfinals, and judging from the smile on your face it's obvious that you're ecstatic. Take us through the grueling conditions and the tough opponent you had to get through today to get through to the quarterfinals.

ALIZE CORNET: Yeah, there is a lot to say about this match. It was definitely very hard conditions to play. I could see that Simona was also struggling, like me. We were both fighters on the court out there, and really giving everything we had, leaving it all on the court.

Yeah, it was such a drama, because I was one set one break up and I don't know how many games I lost in a row and finally came back in the third. And just, you know, I was so tired I couldn't think anymore, which was a good thing I think at the end, because it just made me keep playing, keep trying, and at the end I made my first quarterfinals. It's quite exciting, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. When you look at your record, the titles you've won, players you've beaten, the ranking you've had, it seems a little surprising you haven't had a quarterfinal before. Do you know why it's taken a while? Do you put pressure on yourself in the slams, or is it just fortune?

ALIZE CORNET: I don't know. What I know is that I'm in quarterfinal now. That's what matters. After 16 years on the tour, I never give up. Today I realized this goal that was very important to me for a while. After beating few big names, Muguruza, today Halep, they are all players that I admire a lot.

I don't know what happened in the past, and really, honestly, right now I don't care (smiling).

Q. I'd like to ask about your postmatch exchange with Jelena Dokic. You decided to share that moment with Jelena. Tell us why you wanted to show your support to Jelena. With reference to Peng Shuai, why do you think it's important to use your platform to speak out?

ALIZE CORNET: Well, about Jelena, it made sense. 13 years ago, when I had these two match points against Safina and I didn't make it to the quarterfinal, she was expecting me in the quarterfinal and I was supposed to play against her.

I don't know why when I won today I had a thought for her, because this is a match that I could never play and we never actually played after that.

I was following her, you know, when she published her book, and I was following her story. Now I can see how she's commentating and how she's doing. I think she's great. I just wanted to share this moment with her, because it all made sense at that moment.

Q. You said that reaching the quarterfinal was a goal achieved. What's the goal now? Can you win it?

ALIZE CORNET: Going further. I mean, I'm not gonna stop now. I'm still ambitious. I just have to soak it in, like, you know, take time to appreciate the moment and be proud of what I did today.

But definitely from tomorrow I will have to think about my next match and how I can go farther in the tournament. The sky's the limit. I mean, I really want to be ambitious on this slam. For the first time of my life, I really believe I can go till the end. I think that's what makes a difference.

Q. You said the other day that this could be your last season. Do you think maybe having that in your mind, is it in some way freed you up, or do you think that's a factor here?

ALIZE CORNET: Who knows? It's tricky with tennis. You never know. Mentally everything is so fragile, you know. What I know is I have been working really hard again this preseason. I made some change in my structure.

Yeah, I told myself that this could be my last season, that's true. I don't know if it's helping, I don't know if it's just the work that is paying out. I don't know. When I'm on the court I feel good. I feel good outside the court, I feel good on the court.

I think you can see the way I play and the way I behave, it's just about enjoying, about joy. Today, not so much joy, a lot of suffering, but overall I think I'm very positive and this helps a lot.

Q. When something has been a goal for so long, you can sort of build it up in your mind. Does it feel as good as you hoped it would feel to finally reach the quarterfinal?

ALIZE CORNET: Oh, yeah. Yes, it does (smiling). It does feel good. It does feel really good. I couldn't stop crying after my match when I realized after the match point that I made it. I was very emotional, and I didn't know it would feel so good. I think it will feel really good for the next couple of days till I have to get ready for my next match. But I really want to enjoy this moment, because I've been waiting for it for a long, long time.

Q. You called this match a drama, and I think most people like to associate you with drama, dramatic moments throughout your career. Do you like that? Or do you wish life was simpler?

ALIZE CORNET: That's who I am. I mean, I can't hide my true nature. If I'm a drama queen for the people, then I am (smiling).

What I know is that I give everything I have on the court, and I think that's why sometimes there is drama, because when you play against a player like Halep that does the same as you, which is not letting go a single point, fighting and grinding. I mean, this makes drama by definition.

But yeah, I mean, that's who I am. I cannot say anything else, but I think people want to see truth on the court, you know, and honesty. I think that's what I am. So there is good side and bad side sometimes. Right now it's all about good side.

Q. Curious if you would have preferred to play under the roof, if both you and Simona wanted to do that, do you think that players should be able to play under the roof, or...

ALIZE CORNET: That's a good question. I didn't even think about it, because for me the roof is used when it's raining, not when it's 35 degrees.

It could be, because it's very, very tough to play in these conditions. It's not dangerous for our health but could be, you know. It's so extreme.

But, I mean, we just play by the rules. If it's open, then we just have to suffer and still try our best, and that's the same for everybody.

Q. Next round, Collins. What do you know about her? How do you tackle this match?

ALIZE CORNET: That's the first time we play with Danielle Collins. Well, that could be somewhat drama, this match for sure. I mean, I see how she is on the court. She's like a lion. Oh, my God, she impresses me a little bit because she's like so intense, I'm intense too but I think she's next-level intense. She's hitting so hard. I mean, this is going to be a good match. I'm really happy to play against this kind of player.

We'll see. I really want to enjoy my victory for now, and tomorrow I'll, yeah, I'll watch a little bit her matches and put a strategy on and hope it's work.

Q. Being quite vocal about Peng Shuai in that situation, interested on your thoughts on Tennis Australia taking away T-shirts and banners from a couple of people who were supporting her a few days ago. Do you think that's the right thing to be doing or what's your take on the situation?

ALIZE CORNET: I don't really know what to think about this, because I don't know, I don't know the details of the story. It makes me feel a little bit surprised, to be honest. But I don't know how it happen, and I don't want to judge a situation that I don't know.

But, yeah, when I heard that, I was surprised. I think that everybody should, like, be able to manifest their support to Peng Shuai.

Q. After 63 majors, you're in a quarterfinal. How did you maintain that determination and desire and the belief that you could do it?

ALIZE CORNET: Well, I think I'm not sure I believed I could do it anymore, and that's why it came, you know, to me. I think that when you expect things the less that it happens, actually.

I just kept working all these years, trying to, you know, find some fun playing tennis, and I just told myself that if it should happen, then it will happen, you know. Maybe leave it in the hands of fate, destiny, I don't know.

But what I know is that I always love tennis so much, like I said the previous days. That's what help me to just keep playing, and I think determination, that's why I'm like this, you know. Each time I'm doing something, I'm willing to do my best, and, yeah, that's me.

Q. Someone asked you about the situation with Peng Shuai in terms of the items that were confiscated by Tennis Australia. I want to ask you more broadly on that topic, you spoke about it early on when the situation first came to light. Why is it you are so concerned about Peng Shuai?

ALIZE CORNET: Why? Because this was not a normal situation at that time when it happened, and I felt like it was my duty as a player, as a fellow tennis player, that knew her for a long time to just ask what's going on. That's all, you know.

As I said, I'm a very honest person, sometimes maybe too much, but I always say what I think. At that moment, I remember I was on holiday in Portugal, and I'm, like, What's going on? Should we do something? Should we say something?

Yeah, the answer was definitely yes. I'm very happy that all these people followed me after that. It's still very unsure how she's doing, but I think the fact to put some lights on this story was good for her overall.

Yeah, now we are of course all waiting for more details that we don't have so far, but we keep our fingers crossed.