Alize Cornet, former world No.11 and current No.73, won the Nurnberger Gastein Ladies without dropping a set all week, even though her straight-set victory in the final against Yanina Wickmayer was a close affair, as the seventh-seeded Cornet was serving at 4-5 0-15 in the first set and 5-6 15-30 in the second.
Before beating the second-seeded Wickmayer, Cornet defeated Edina Gallovits Hall in the first round, then Sacha Jones, Estrella Cabeza Candela, and third seed Ksenia Pervak in the semis.
Cornet is ecstatic to have won her second WTA title and her first since Budapest 2008 at her favorite tournament where she feels at home.
Top seed in singles at the Bad Gastein was Julia Goerges and she fell in the first round already. However, the German made up for the loss by winning her fourth doubles title and her first teamed up with best friend Jill Craybas. In the final they defeated No.1 seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Petra Martic, 6-7(4) 6-4 11-9. (via WTA Tour, photo: Ralf Reinecke)
Hopefully, the petite French head-case is starting to come into her own. Alléz, Alizé!
(And I’m, as always, glad when you [or anyone else, for that matter] notice(s) such glorious ‘minor’ accomplishments of any struggling talent. For, the big media, as well as the blogosphere, are full of every kind of ‘news’ about the ‘stars’, while much more exciting stories often concern the, eh, ‘starlets’ of the sport – such as, this time, Alizé. Well done, Marija.)
I am happy for her, finally her hard work paid off. Maybe there is some hope for women’s french tennis after all…