US OPEN

August 30, 2022

Alize Cornet

Press Conference

A. CORNET/E. Raducanu

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Give us your thoughts on the match and your victory.

ALIZE CORNET: Well, I'm happy. I'm tired, to be honest, but happy to be through in two sets. I think I played a pretty solid match. I had to because Emma is a very good player. She didn't win a slam for nothing. I know how she can play.

Tonight I think I was playing good tennis. I was doing a lot of variation, coming to the net when I could, defending when I had no other choice.

I think she felt I was ready for the fight. It was 6-3, 6-3, but it was actually a tough fight for both of us.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It was going to be a historic tournament for you, record of main-draw appearances. How does this feel on top of that?

ALIZE CORNET: Well, it's amazing for me to celebrate this record by winning on Armstrong in the night session against the defending champ. I mean, it's like the stars are aligned, you know? It's such a special moment for me.

I was already very happy to break this record, have my 500 wins last week in Cleveland [sic]. But I was ready. I was ready for tonight. This year I'm kind of the upset girl (smiling). I pull out an upset on every slam. I was like, Okay, I did it on the three previous Grand Slams, so why not this one?

Yeah, the atmosphere was great. I know people were rooting for Emma a lot, but I was really trying to put on a show and take them with me. It kind of work at the end.

I just hope they're going to be behind me for the second round.

Q. You talked about the stars being aligned. Seemed like you were quite excited to see who you were playing in the first round in this historic tournament for you. Do you look at this whole 2022 season that you've had as something fated, something that was written in the stars?

ALIZE CORNET: I don't know. When you say I was excited to see my draw, I wouldn't say I was excited. At first I was like, Oh. Then I was like, Well, I'm celebrating the record, I'm going to have a good court against a great opponent where I'll have basically nothing to lose. Then I was excited. At first I wasn't that excited because Emma is a great opponent.

It felt like a great opportunity for me to put on a show and have fun, enjoy. That's what I did. That's what I did on every slam this year.

I saw a stat on Twitter. I saw that I've beaten a Grand Slam champion on every slam this year. I think it's crazy. It's kind of cool. These players that I'm admiring, that I have been following for a long time, knowing I'm part of this world, that I can beat them on a slam, I don't know, I still feel like a kid sometimes. I don't realize I'm able to do these kind of things, so it's cool.

Q. You've obviously played so many slams, but clearly you haven't had a year at the slams like this before. Have you learnt anything new about yourself that you didn't know before this year?

ALIZE CORNET: I guess it's just called 'maturity'. That's it. You have to wait for it. It came this year.

I guess I'm just trying -- maybe because I know is, like, my last year, my last two years, that I won't have the chance to play so many slams after that, I'm really trying to soak in the moment, to enjoy it, to have fun, to take the energy out of the crowd.

Sometimes I'm taking distance when I'm playing: Oh, my God, I'm going to miss it so much in the future. It's going to be great memories. Don't let your nerves get in the way, just enjoy.

That's how I handle my emotion a bit better and I think it helps my tennis overall.

Maybe you're right, maybe it's written in the stars, it had to be this year. I'm happy it finally happened (smiling).

Q. In the beginning of the year you said you wanted this to be your last year, then you said maybe Roland Garros next year. Considering how much fun you're having on the tour, how are you approaching things?

ALIZE CORNET: Who knows? I never said that I would stop for sure. I said I let the door open. Then the media were like, It's her last year.

I was like, Oh, man, I'm not going to justify myself.

I will feel it in my heart when it's time.

After I played Roland Garros I knew for sure I couldn't end on this Roland Garros. I came off the court with the whistles. It was a sign for me that I had to come back. It was not an option for me to stop, not to play another Roland Garros. That's why it's in my mind right now. I'm going to push it till Roland Garros for sure next year, then let's see what's happening.

It's in nine months. Many thing can happen mentally, physically. For now I'm enjoying being healthy in my head and in my body. Yeah, I want to take it all right now.

Q. On the record, can you talk about what this record means? I saw a stat when you first started it, Emma was four.

ALIZE CORNET: (Laughter).

Q. That blew my mind. It's kind of crazy. To play 63 consecutive slams, what does that say about you?

ALIZE CORNET: Well, I think it shows pretty well the kind of player that I am, the consistency I've had for these 16 years, the discipline I'm having every day since I'm 11. The fact that I'm not injured a lot because I'm strong and also because I'm working a lot in the gym. I spend a lot of time working on my body, doing prevention and stuff. I think it's paying off right now. It's been paying off for my whole career.

It's just a proof of my consistency even on the court, the way I'm playing. I'm 100% on every matches, every set, every point.

Yeah, I'm pretty glad that I'm holding this record. I think I kind of deserve it, so it's a nice feeling.