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9 Years After Overpowering Serena Williams, 33-Year-Old WTA Star Reveals Heart-Wrenching Personal Loss That Propelled Her to a Dream Victory at Wimbledon

Published 07/06/2023, 1:41 AM EDT

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via Reuters

If a player started playing tennis during the Serena Williams era, meeting the legendary American tennis player was undoubtedly on that tennis player’s bucket list. It was the same case for Alizé Cornet; her victory over the 23-time Grand Slam champion on the tennis court is her all-time favorite athletic moment, which came at a very unexpected time when she was dwelling in a heart-wrenching loss.

Despite not winning a Grand Slam title, Cornet played several memorable matches on the tennis court. The French tennis player recently shared her list of the top 10 games she’s ever won in her sporting career. And, surprisingly, after nine years, she confessed that her 2014 victory over Serena Williams was literally the finest win of her career, even though she was not fully prepared for the match.

Alizé Cornet recalls her best win’ against Serena Williams during the most unexpected time

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The 33-year-old tennis player saw both good and bad times on the tennis court. But nine years ago, she faced one of the best wins of her career in one of the most horrifying times of her life. In a conversation with the WTA, Cornet recalled a Wimbledon victory that will always be an amazing memory in her heart. It might be the best win, but the win didn’t come easy, just before her match against the American tennis legend, she had just lost her grandmother, resulting in a huge personal loss.

She reflected on how her grandmother passed away just a week before her match against Williams. Further, she explained that she had to go back and forth to Nice for her grandmother’s funeral, before facing the 41-year-old tennis legend.

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Along with that, she revealed that it propelled her to a dream victory at Wimbledon. Cornet recalled, “The day before playing Serena, I was not practicing. I was on a plane. When I entered the court I was in another world. I was like, ‘OK, nothing really matters. I’m just going to play for my grandmother, try to have fun as much as I can.”

USA Today via Reuters

Further, she also expressed how it was a very emotional moment to defeat the former WTA queen, at such a time when she was not prepared for such a win. Along with that, having friends and family watch her win was something that she will never forget.

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However, this is not the first time she has talked about her Wimbledon victory against the 23-time Grand Slam champion. A few years ago, she reflected on her Wimbledon victory as one of the best memories of her singles career.

The 33-year-old tennis pro referred to her finest career win as a miracle in an interview with EssentiallySports from back in 2020. She claimed that it was ‘tennistically’ her finest match ever against the legendary American tennis player.

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She also recalled how, in 2014, despite not feeling at ease on grass, she was encouraged on the court to prove to herself that she, too, could compete at Wimbledon. In addition, she emphasized that defeating Williams at Wimbledon will always be one of her fondest experiences.

WATCH THIS STORY – Serena Williams pays tribute to Roger Federer

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash is a Tennis writer at EssentiallySports. She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media and Journalism from MIT ADT University, Pune. Being a sports enthusiast, she has been following varied sports like tennis, cricket and Esports from her childhood.
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Edited by:

Bhavani Singh