Cornet Pulls Off Biggest Win

Before this week, I really doubted Cornet's ability to pull off a stunner. Especially against someone so fierce and mentally strong as Serena Williams. She was always a talented player, a challenging opponent, but she never had that extra spark to take her to the top of the game. While I don't think this has or will soon change, the Frenchwoman is showing some great progress.

This year already she teamed up with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win France's first Hopman Cup, lost a tough three-setter against Sharapova in the third round at the Australian Open, and succumbed 7-6 in the decider to Sara Errani in the semifinals on home soil in Paris. In Dubai she took it one step further, reaching her second Premier final after a sensational 6-4,6-4 victory over the world No.1 American. 

She was actually superb the entire week, dismissing high class opponents like red-hot Simona Halep, Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, Spaniard Carla Suarez-Navarro, and ultimately the one and only Serena without dropping a set. 

Talking about her victory over the American, the thrilled Cornet said: "It was tough to close it out because I had four match points the game before, and on the four match points she played unbelievable, so I was like, 'Okay, maybe she's going to put a little bit more on the important points now.' But I just tried to relax and breathe and pass my first serve at 5-4. I stayed focused and when the last ball went out I was like, 'That's it? I did it?' Then I was full of emotion. It's definitely the biggest win of my career."

The emotions were probably so intense that they were impossible to control. In the championships match, Alize started strong, but faded quickly against the rejuvenated Venus Williams. Venus made amends for the Williamses, destroying Cornet 6-3,6-0 to seal her first title since late 2012. 

Despite the tough loss, this has been a magnificent week with tons of positives for the Frenchwoman. Not only did she beat five higher ranked players in a row, but she also got her first top 4 triumph, stunning none other than the world No.1. She may have got inspired by Marion Bartoli's stellar achievement at Wimbledon last season, but this could very well be Alize's breakthrough year. Looking forward to seeing more from this talented French player :)!

Alize got the biggest win of her career in Dubai when she stunned world No.1, Serena Williams, in the semifinals. Venus got revenge for the Williamses, beating the Frenchwoman 6-3,6-0 to claim the title.

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