French Open 2024: Former world number 11 Alize Cornet ends her great career with emotional opening-round loss

Roland Garros had to bid an emotional farewell for the third time in just three days after Alize Cornet's defeat in her French Open first-round match. Cornet, a renowned Frenchwoman, announced last month that her tennis career would be retiring after the home tournament this year. A wild card and a spot on Court Philippe Chatrier were given to the 34-year-old star, who twice advanced to the fourth round. She referred to this as 'the last dance' after failing to enter in the second round.

She lost 6-2, 6-1 to seventh seed  Qinwen Zheng of China to end her 20th Roland Garros tournament and her 72nd grand slam run. It wouldn't be unfair to say that fans found it tough to witness the 22-time Grand Slam champion lose badly in the first round.

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old star has revealed that it was a very emotional day for her to play the game for the very last time. The 22-time Grand Slam winner hoped that she could have played a little better to make it to further rounds of the ongoing French Open 2024.

I wish I could have played better, but I gave everything I could to this sport

“It’s been a difficult day with a lot of emotion. It’s a 20-year page that I’m turning and I’m going to a new chapter in my life. I wish I could have played better, but I gave everything I could to this sport," Cornet said after the loss.

“It was my first tournament. It was my first  Grand Slam tournament when I was 15, and it will be my 20th this year. This is where I wanted to say farewell to professional tennis. I am glad to have reached that point in my life where I can say goodbye in front of my fans and my family. Roland-Garros is a love story that was not always easy, and I think it’s the case also for all French tennis players. So I’m delighted to have chosen my last tournament because it’s a lot of symbolism for me," she said.