Tennis veteran Alize Cornet hangs up her racket — for real this time
Alize Cornet has closed the chapter on her professional tennis career — for real this time. The 35-year-old French veteran announced her second, and purportedly final, retirement this week, bringing an end to a career that spanned nearly two decades.
Cornet first received a poignant farewell at Roland Garros in 2024, a celebration of a career that saw her become one of France’s most consistent and respected players.
Yet, in an unexpected twist, she returned earlier this year for a “last dance,” competing briefly on the WTA circuit after gaining renewed visibility from starring on the French reality show The Traitors.
“Reflecting on my time in San Sebastian and the end (for real this time) of a chapter as a player,” Cornet wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo from her final tournament. “Couldn’t dream of a better place than this beautiful city to definitely turn the page and start writing others, in every sense of the word.”
Her comeback yielded a 4-6 record across WTA 125 events and qualifying rounds at tour-level tournaments. At Wimbledon, she told WTA journalist Alex Macpherson she wanted to “close the loop” on her career by returning to the grass courts where she made her Grand Slam debut as a 17-year-old lucky loser in 2007.
Her final professional match came just two months later in San Sebastian, ending with a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch.
Cornet’s career, however, is defined by more than her final results. She made her Grand Slam singles debut at the 2005 French Open at just 15 and went on to win six WTA singles titles while reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 11.
Along the way, she notched 25 Top 10 victories, including seven over Top 3 players.
Among her most notable wins were three over World No. 1 Serena Williams in 2014, victories over No. 2 Simona Halep in 2015, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska in 2014, No. 3 Garbine Muguruza in 2022, and a memorable triumph over World No. 1 Iga Swiątek at Wimbledon in 2022, ending the Pole’s 37-match winning streak.
“Alizé’s distinguished WTA results and incredible record of Grand Slam participation reflect supreme dedication to the game and a fierce competitive spirit,” WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said in 2024.
“She can also be proud of her contribution as a role model who helped to grow women’s tennis by engaging with fans, sponsors and media in a special way. On behalf of the WTA family, I wish her much happiness and success as she takes on new adventures.”
Cornet’s decision to step away for good marks the end of a career defined by tenacity, versatility, and a willingness to embrace challenges both on and off the court.
Beyond her wins and rankings, she leaves behind a legacy as a mentor, author, and cultural figure in French tennis — someone who repeatedly demonstrated that the measure of a career extends far beyond trophies.
As Cornet herself wrote, this final chapter may be over, but the next one is just beginning: “…definitely turn the page and start writing others, in every sense of the word.”
