By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday April 7, 2021
Alizé Cornet was not thrilled to hear about the potential postponement of Roland-Garros by one week. Speaking in an interview with Tennis Channel’s Steve Weismann on Wednesday after her victory over Elise Mertens, she took a poke at France’s current Minister of Sport.
“It stays between us, but our Sports Minister is a disaster,” Cornet said, referring to Roxana Maracineanu. “Sorry I have nothing against her, but she only takes bad decisions from sport, it’s like she doesn’t care.”
Cornet added that Roland-Garros might be culpable as well.
“I know it comes from the government, I’m pretty sure,” Cornet said. “And it might come also from the tournament, because I heard that they might have more people if they postpone for one week, but still I think it’s a pretty selfish decision to be honest, because the calendar is going to suffer from this postponement.”
Cornet said that it would be nice if the powers that be gave more thought to the players, the calendar and the other tournaments.
“I understand it’s not an easy time for the tournament but we have to think about the players and the calendar—all the tournaments, they have to fit in this calendar.”
When asked about the rumors later, World No.1 Ashleigh Barty weighed in and stressed that the health of the nation should be the most important consideration.
"Whether it's going to happen or not, that's above my paygrade," said Barty. "That's not my decision to make. I'm extremely grateful and fortunate that I have an opportunity to hopefully play in another Grand Slam at Roland-Garros. Obviously I know that France is going through a difficult period at the moment and I feel for them, I think it's a third wave for them, so obviously a very tough time for the whole country. At the moment I think the health of the nation has to be prioritized and obviously if we're fortunate enough to play at Roland-Garros it will be really special."