THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2023

Alize Cornet

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/A. Cornet

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Alize, can I just ask your general initial thoughts on today's match.

ALIZE CORNET: My general thoughts. I don't know what to say.

I think she played, she's an amazing player on grass, on every surface, obviously. But in the first set I was very surprised of the rhythm of her shots. And the way she was serving was also really hard to return for me, but in the second set I got used to it. I tried to find solution.

The second set was much better till the drama happened. But overall, I'm pretty well happy about the second set. It's just a shame that I started my match a bit slowly.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. I'm wondering, you have been so successful at every level of this game over a long period of time. I'm wondering, when you come into a tournament, are you treated differently than a player who maybe is ranked 70 in the world or 80...

ALIZE CORNET: I am 70 in the world.

Q. Now you are but...

ALIZE CORNET: And I'm treated like a 70 in the world. (Laughter.)

Q. How is that different? That's exactly my question.

ALIZE CORNET: Treated by who, by the organization or the players?

Q. Yeah, let's see, I don't want to say Wimbledon, but US Open.

ALIZE CORNET: No, because it's two different thing. It's a different treatment on every slam. When I'm at home, for example, in Roland Garros, I have priorities over the courts, I know everybody, I can ask when I want to play. You know, I'm very comfortable at home. I think the organization does everything for the French player to be successful there.

Then in Wimbledon, you have a huge difference between the seeded player and the other players. This is not new. The difference of treatment, tickets.

Q. What about the US Open?

ALIZE CORNET: It's pretty fair, I would -- no, I think it's pretty fair. It's like the Australian Open. You don't feel so much difference.

But I have been, yeah, I've been almost top 10, I've been 30, I've been 90, I've had all the ranking possible. I definitely felt a little different when I was a seeded player on the slam.

But overall, I just try not to pay attention on it. I'm doing my job, trying to fulfill my mission.

Of course you're a little bit more comfortable when you're a better player, but that's how society works, you know. The best you are and the more advantage you get. That's how it works.

For me, it's just a reflection of society.

Q. Along those lines, when you say the "tickets," are some people given more tickets for their guests, given more guest badges? Some people have complained to me that the tennis balls, they're given fewer balls to practice with.

ALIZE CORNET: No, for me the biggest issue on this tournament was, yeah, the difference between today I played on Centre Court, and I had basically 40 tickets to give away. On my first round I had two. That explains everything.

Nobody could come. I couldn't even invite like one of my best friends who was there. Two tickets on the outside court, it's too little.

Then you have a huge gap and you get 40 when you play on Centre Court. You need to give a little more credit to players that play on the outside courts.

This tournament exists because of all the players, not only the ones that play on the big courts.

Q. US Open is not like that?

ALIZE CORNET: It's better. No, the biggest gap is here in Wimbledon. In the other tournaments you get like four, six, you know, at least a little bit to invite your friends.

So every year I'm thinking the same, I'm like, yeah, if you want to -- everybody is asking me tickets. If the schedule puts me on Court 10, I cannot give you anything. It's a shame, but it's the rule.