AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2022

Alize Cornet

Press Conference

A. CORNET/T. Zidansek

4-6, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Happy birthday and congratulations. Talk us through the match and how you felt out there.

ALIZE CORNET: It was a really, really hard match first of all because I didn't start very well. I was pretty tight. I saw that Tamara was also not feeling amazing. Then I was 6-4, 4-1. How I managed to come back, I don't exactly know how.

I just kept fighting, kept trying my best, and the match turned around. Finally in the third set it was very hard physically for both of us. I mean, it was burning hot outside. I'm really glad that I came out with the win the day of my birthday. It means a lot.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Where does this win rank in your career?

ALIZE CORNET: Yeah, I have chills. I don't realize it yet because first of all I'm super tired. I don't realize what I just accomplished.

Yeah, definitely it's a huge proof of resilience what I did today on the court, always believing. I think it was 4-1, 30-Love, and anything can happen with tennis. I think I just stick to the thought that I could make it. I always believed in it.

Yeah, it's definitely a very, very special victory being back in the second week 13 years after my first second week at the Australian Open. It's quite special. The day of my birthday, I mean, what else can I ask for?

Q. How has it changed winning?

ALIZE CORNET: You mean back in 2009?

Q. How different winning feels to you now who has experienced so much compared to when you were younger.

ALIZE CORNET: It feels the same. I mean, maybe I have a little more distance with it because I've played so many years and I've faced so many different situations. But it feels very sweet. It still feels amazing.

I think that's why we all keep playing and keep pushing ourselves because we're so addicted to these feelings, this joy right after the match point then you can share it with your box, then with your family. It's really amazing.

To start the year this way definitely wants to make me play some more tennis.

Q. You mentioned your resilience. At what point in your career did you realize you were resilient?

ALIZE CORNET: I think I've known it since the beginning. Since I'm a kid, I've always been this kind of fighter that never let go a single point, that been always fighting, hating to lose. I think this resilience, I have it in me since I'm born I guess.

Sometimes it's very helpful on the court (smiling).

Q. There's been a lot of talk about your streak of Grand Slams now. Was there a time when it was the toughest one to play? I don't know if you had an injury. And what would it mean to you to get a first quarterfinal if you win the next one?

ALIZE CORNET: Well, over the 63 slams that I played overall, I have to be honest, I don't remember all of them. I remember going into a slam with little injuries, especially in my adductor, which is one of my weakness. I never questioned my participation to one of the slam.

Not so far ago in the US Open when I was playing against Ons Jabeur, I had a pain in my adductor after my run to the final in Chicago. I knew it would be tough, but I knew I would, like, try. Actually I lost in two tight sets.

No, I think I'm pretty solid physically and lucky enough not to have an injury during this 60 streak at Grand Slam.

To answer the second question, I'm don't want to think about this quarterfinal because I have the feeling it's getting a little, like, an obsession. I don't want it to be an obsession. I'm enjoying so much my run here so far.

I had a really great time on the court again with the crowd supporting me. It's just amazing feeling. I want to fill my heart with all this energy without thinking I might get finally my quarterfinal that I'm looking for for the past 15 years.

We'll see how it goes. I will keep doing my best on the court. If it happens, great. If not, I mean, it's still amazing what I'm living every day here.

Q. Has it been an obsession for you in the past?

ALIZE CORNET: A little bit. I think two years ago at the US Open crossed my mind. I was like, Oh, that's probably one of the biggest chance I have to make it. It made me - how do you say in English - when you get a little bit like tight on the court. I don't want to do the same mistakes than before. Really play match by match, even point by point.

Q. Could you talk about the matchup of the next match.

ALIZE CORNET: I don't know who I'm playing against and I don't want to know. I'm sorry. I did the same the previous match. I just want to enjoy the moment and not think about who I'm going to play, the tactic s.

Q. You had a verbal altercation with the chair umpire. Did that help you? What was the context?

ALIZE CORNET: If it helped me?

Q. Yes.

ALIZE CORNET: I took a time violation so I lost my first serve on a very, very important game because it was like 4-All. The last game lasted literally 14 minutes, so that was a really crucial game.

She gave me a time violation at this moment. I had to tell her what I had on my heart. I came to her and I was like, You know, we've been fighting on the court for two hours in the heat, playing such a long game. I mean, be a little bit understanding. You're in the shade, you're seated. I was a little bit, you know, maybe not really nice. But I told her sometimes you have to be a little bit human with the players.

I think it was a tough decision, but it's okay because after that I didn't got too emotional. Finally I could close it out, close out this set, so I'm happy about my reaction.

Q. Do you think being so honest with your emotions has helped you keep going; you're free that you don't keep things bottled up?

ALIZE CORNET: You mean at this precise moment?

Q. In terms of the whole career. You've been consistent with that since we first saw you. Do you have an emotional honesty that keeps things from being complicated?

ALIZE CORNET: Yeah, I guess I'm this kind of person that needs to let it out somehow. If I keep it for myself, I feel bad, I think about it. Yeah, I think that's just who I am.

When you always try to fight who you are, this is where you actually spend the most energy. So, no, I just listen to my instincts. This time I needed to tell her, just to let it out. I did. I tried to stay calm, which is a good thing. Didn't happen all the time.

I think that's a good reaction. You just tell things, you don't get too pissed off, then you move on.

Q. Regarding 2009 versus now, how different is the Alize Cornet that made the fourth round here in 2009 compared to the one now?

ALIZE CORNET: In a way she's the same. I'm exactly the same. I love the game as much as I used to. I'm passionated the same way. I'm still fighting like with all my heart. I just have more experience. Maybe I know how to handle a little bit better my emotions sometimes. Not all the time, would be too easy.

Sometimes I think all these years spent on the tour teached me that there is a moment where you can scream or get angry with yourself, and sometimes there's not. Now I can identify these moments a little bit better. I guess that would make the main difference between myself now and the young myself.

Q. You mentioned this could be your final season, that you want to enjoy.

ALIZE CORNET: I take it out. No, just kidding (laughter).

Q. What is going to be the key to enjoy if this is your final year? Is it results...

ALIZE CORNET: Well, definitely I'm not going to lie. The results will help. I'm having so much fun right now by making the second week of a slam than when I lost first round last week in Adelaide. We're not going to lie, results really help.

But I think it's to enjoy the process of maybe living my last year on the tour makes me sit a little bit with some kid's eyes. I want to enjoy the time I spend on-site, to talk with the players that maybe I will not see anymore in the future. It makes everything a little bit more special.

I think what's the most important is to really keep working on this notion of living the present moment even on the court. I'm much more in the present moment than, What's going to happen? What just happened? Which occasion did I miss? I'm going to win or lose this match? You always have some mental projection in the future or the past.

Right now I'm really just much better at staying in the present moment which makes me enjoy more the match like overall. I think that would be the most important process.

Q. One of the players who also said she's enjoying herself as much or maybe more is Simona Halep. What have been your observations of the way she's playing and the attitude she's exuding?

ALIZE CORNET: Yeah, I feel she's kind of back at her best level. Simona, I've seen her play in Melbourne when she won the tournament. You can see. I followed her for many years. She's a player that I really admire, that I also identify myself a little bit to. She has this will and she's such a fighter, the way she plays with variation and stuff.

What I saw last year in her game has definitely changed I think these past months. I think now she's back on track for real. I can see she is ambitious in her eyes. I would not be surprised if she goes very far in the tournament.