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Prodigy Cornet takes on goliath Maursemo
Alize Cornet will face the biggest test of her young career when she takes on world number three Amelie Mauresmo in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
French teenager Alize Cornet will face the biggest test of her young career when she takes on world number three Amelie Mauresmo in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
The 15-year-old from Nice, ranked 645, dispatched 71st-ranked Russian Alina Jidkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in her first ever professional tour match on Tuesday to set up a meeting with her countrywoman and the former world number one.
Cornet, who just eleven months ago won the French championship for pre-juniors, was handed a wildcard entry into the French Open.
And after an initial hesitant start against 28-year-old Jidkova the youngster battled through to set up a dream clash with her idol Maursemo, whose poster she has hanging over her bed.
"This is a dream come true for me. She's my favourite player," said Cornet.
"Two years ago she was practising on a court beside me, and I could just stare at her. I said to myself 'Oh la la, if only I could play her'. In any case she seemed really nice."
"But despite my huge admiration for Amelie on Thursday I'm just hoping not to be too stressed," she said.
There is more to life however for the young prodigy who sits her baccalaureat (school-leaving certificate) examination, in which she is specialising in science, in ten days time.
"Yes I'm two years ahead at school," she added.
