By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, January 19, 2022
World No. 61 Alizé Cornet gave herself an early birthday present toppling third-ranked Garbine Muguruza, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the AO third round.
Photo credit: Getty
Longevity is more than extended play, it’s a state of mind for Alizé Cornet.
Contesting her 60th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, Cornet celebrated staying power deconstructing third-ranked Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-3, streaking into the Australian Open third round.
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WTA Finals champion Muguruza is the highest-seeded woman to fall so far, joining sixth-seeded Anett Kontaveit, who lost to talented 19-year-old Dane Clara Tauson today, 11th-seeded Sofia Kenin and 16th-seeded Angelique Kerber in tumbling out of Melbourne before round three.
"I feel like my shots weren't as accurate and precise," said Muguruza, whose 35 hard-court wins in 2021 were second most on Tour to Kontaveit. "I feel also my aggressive game wasn't that aggressive today. I feel like she was dominating some of the long points.
"Yeah, I think in general my game wasn't there."
It was Cornet’s 10th career Top 5 victory and her fourth Grand Slam victory over a Top-10 ranked woman following her 2014 stunner over world No. 1 Serena Williams at Wimbledon, a 2017 Roland Garros triumph over Agnieszka Radwanska and a 2021 Wimbledon win over No. 7 Bianca Andreescu.
The 61st-ranked Frenchwoman turned Rod Laver Arena into a fun house beating the 2020 AO finalist to the ball and carving her up in key baseline rallies in an impressive 87-minute victory.
“I feel amazing—I think I played a good match out there today,” Cornet said. “My state of mind was perfect I was not very tight I was just super focused on what I had to do.
“I felt like in a bubble. You always have to play a super good match to beat Garbine—she’s such a fighter. Even at the end, I was one set, one break up, but I knew she wouldn’t let go a single point.”
Pressuring former world No. 1 Muguruza’s serve persistently, Cornet pushed the Spaniard to deuce in five of her first six service games and converted three of 12 break points on the day.
Cornet, who won 25 of 30 first-serve points, did not face a break point in the match. It was Cornet’s third straight win over Muguruza and a double celebration coming two days before she celebrates her 32nd birthday.
The owner of six WTA titles said she’s trying to focus on fun as an energy source in her 17th season on Tour.
“I’m really happy with the way I played. In two days it’s my birthday, so I think that’s the best gift I can give to myself,” Cornet said. “Longevity, I’m very proud of it. Of course I’m a perfectionist I always think I can do better. “But today I stepped on the court thinking I will have fun and actually that’s the best way I play is when I have fun and there was a lack of fun sometimes in my career—in this 16-year career—but I think right now I just want to enjoy it. I don’t know how many years I have left. Today was a perfect gift I can give myself and I really hope the journey is going to go even farther for me.”
The 2020 finalist fended off three break points in her opening service game but double faulted away the break on the fourth. Cornet broke for 2-0.
A consistent Cornet was sending shots deep giving the Spaniard little to work with as she served in the fourth game. Trying to change it up, Muguruza attacked but pushed a low volley wide to fall into a triple break point hole.
The WTA Finals champion fought off all three including handling a tricky backhand half volley winner to draw even at deuce. Sliding a serve winner down the middle, Muguruza stood tall amid a tough test to get on the board after 21 minutes.
Playing with white adhesive tape wrapping her right leg, Cornet was quick to the ball and cut off angles shrewdly.
Former world No. 11 Cornet earned double set point in the eighth game. Muguruza calmed the crisis with a smash and a stinging serve working through a tense four-and-a-half-minute hold for 3-5.
Lofting a desperate defensive lob to extend the point, Cornet jerked the former No. 1 around the court then drop-shotted her. Luring the Spaniard forward, Cornet cracked a pass right back at her for three more set points.
On her fourth set point, Cornet slid the slice serve out wide sealing the 47-minute opener without facing a break point.
Two of Muguruza’s weapons—her powerful flat strikes and crackling two-handed backhand—were not damaging Cornet’s attack or ambition. Cornet enjoys the pace she draws from the Spaniard's two-hander and changed direction down the line effectively. The Frenchwoman came forward knocking a fine forehand volley for another break point.
Muguruza, who was successful at net in her opener over Frenchwoman Clara Burel, found no joy in a forward surge as Cornet spun a forehand pass breaking for 3-2.
When she needed to summon energy for a final push, Muguruza couldn't quite lift her level.
"It's been a pretty stressful start of the year also with my team," Muguruza said. "They all got COVID before coming here. We were, like, for 15 days apart. It was hard for me for the preparation to come to the Aussie swing and play and perform well. That was tricky a little bit.
"Physically here I wasn't also feeling my best. It was a kind of stressful start of the year I would say, yeah."
The world No. 61 backed up the break at 15—by then Cornet had won 12 of 14 points played on her serve in the second set.
Serving to stay in the tournament, Muguruza delved into self-sabotage hitting a pair of double faults and sailing a forehand to surrender serve at love.
An ecstatic Cornet erupted in a in a triumphant scream then sent a shout out to her parents. Cornet, who is competing in Melbourne without a coach, owns the third-longest consecutive Grand Slam streak in WTA history behind only Ai Sugiyama (62) and Francesca Schiavone (61).
The Frenchwoman will try to keep her 17th AO appearance going when she faces either Heather Watson or 29th-seeded Tamara Zidansek for a spot in the round of 16.